The Tiny House: Recent Episodes
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From bankruptcy to building a thriving tiny home community on 160 acres, Jaymie's journey is nothing short of inspirational. He co-founded Living the Off Grid Dream, a program with 9,000 students worldwide and shares practical strategies for creative real estate and business acquisition. Jaymie will share several methods and frameworks for innovative financing and his plans for a sustainable future at his homestead.
The post From Bankrupt to 160 Acres: How Two Brothers Are Using Creative Financing to Build a Tiny Empire with Jaymie Friesen – #311 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Today's episode is packed with practical tips and inspiring insights on decluttering and organizing your home. Joining me is renowned home organizing expert and bestselling author, Shira Gill. With 15 years of experience, Shira has developed a straightforward 4-step organizing process that can transform any space, no matter its size. In our conversation, we delve into the importance of reducing volume before organizing and how to tackle even the tiniest of spaces without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, Shira shares her wisdom on leading a minimalist lifestyle and how intentional living can create freedom and simplicity in all areas of your life. Stick around to learn Shira's proven 4-step process that you can start using today to declutter and organize your space like a professional.
The post A Professional Organizer’s 4-Step Process for Decluttering Any Space with Shira Gill – #310 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Deidra Kolb, a developer who's making waves in the housing industry with her innovative, community-focused projects. Deidra is the owner and cofounder of Ideal Ridge Ventures, and her latest endeavor, Poplar Creek, is the first tiny home development in Rutherford County, NC. We'll be diving into how she's tackling affordable housing through sustainability, community interaction, and tiny homes.
The post From Corporate Law to Tiny House Communities: Dedria Kolb’s Journey to Poplar Creek – #309 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I am thrilled to welcome back a true advocate for the tiny house movement, Lindsay Wood. In this episode, we delve into the opportunities and challenges of living small in California compared to other states, exploring everything from zoning issues to the emerging interest in disaster relief applications for tiny homes. Lindsay shares her insights on finding and creating supportive communities, as well as the intrinsic flexibility and resale potential of tiny homes. We also discuss her project in Daly City aimed at providing urban experiences for potential tiny home enthusiasts. Join us as we uncover valuable tips, resources, and inspiration to help you navigate your own tiny living journey.
The post From Tiny Houses to Modular Homes: Finding Your Path to Small Living with Lindsay Wood – #308 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Jewel is a tiny house educator, advocate, and community leader with nearly a decade of experience living in her self designed tiny home. She's back to talk about her latest venture, the Cooperative Communities app, which aims to make tiny house parking more accessible and safer, especially for black and brown tiny house owners. We'll delve into her motivation behind creating the app, its unique features, and how it can foster cooperative land purchasing and community building. Plus, you'll hear about the financial benefits for landowners and how this initiative could expand the tiny house movement's reach.
The post Making Tiny House Parking Safer: How a 10-Year Tiny Dweller Built an App to Transform the Movement with Jewel Pearson – #307 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Tracey Dedicatoria’s journey into tiny living began after a 23 year marriage, and her tiny house has been a sanctuary of peace, healing, and financial stability for her over the past 8 years. In this episode, Tracey shares the transformative power of simplifying your life, the unique challenges and discoveries of living off grid, and her advice for those considering tiny living today. We also dive into the evolution of the tiny house market, including the rising costs and how to navigate the financing options. Join us as we explore Tracey's inspiring path to finding peace and strength through tiny living.
The post How a Single Mom Found Financial Stability and Peace in a $42k Off-Grid Tiny Home (and Why She’d Do It Again) with Tracey Dedicatoria – #306 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Living in a house roughly about 500 square feet is really catching on lately. And it has a lot to do with two big factors: Economic instability Push for sustainability First off, the cost of living is skyrocketing. Be it rent, home prices, or even utilities—people are always looking for ways to cut back. It's […]
The post 5 Cozy Tiny Home Communities You’ll Want to Move to appeared first on The Tiny House.
However, Cheryl's story goes far beyond innovative design solutions.
We'll dive deep into the legal challenges and zoning issues that have plagued Cheryl's tiny house journey, including a harrowing experience with eviction that exposes the vulnerabilities many tiny house dwellers face. Cheryl candidly discusses the shame and secrecy that often surround nontraditional housing choices and how these factors can leave individuals open to exploitation.
Despite facing numerous setbacks, Cheryl's resilience shines as she advocates for the legalization and broader acceptance of tiny homes. Her story serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action for the tiny house community.
The post From Renovictions to Resilience: One Musician’s Journey to Tiny House Living with Cheryl – #305 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Louise has not only embraced tiny living, but has also helped many transition to a more minimalistic lifestyle through her business, All Things French. We'll dive deep into the challenges and triumphs of living small, the positive impact it has on finances and quality of life and her unique organizational tips to apply to the spaces in your life of all sizes. Plus, we'll explore her passion for French culture and how that's shaping her future business endeavors.
The post Essential Tiny House Organization Tips from a Pro Organizer with Louise Scott – #304 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Nate is an advocate for minimalism, environmental consciousness, and co-living, and he's here to share his insights on how these concepts intersect with van life and tiny house living. We’ll also explore his book "The Ideas That Rule Us," which dives deep into the ideologies shaping our lives and how embracing minimalism can lead to more fulfilling choices. Nate's personal journey and the practical steps he offers for aligning your life with your values are truly inspiring.
The post Breaking Free from Consumerism: Tiny Living and Big Ideas with Nate Murphy – #303 appeared first on The Tiny House.
we'll explore John's remarkable journey from living in a 2800 square foot house to embracing life in a 128 square foot tiny home on the remote Terlingua Ranch in Southwest Texas. John shares practical steps he took to make this dramatic transformation, offering a wealth of tips for anyone interested in off-grid living. From starting small with solar power to mastering essential wilderness skills, his story is both inspiring and instructive.
The post From NYC to 128 Sq Ft: How John Wells Escaped $12K Taxes for a $400/Year Tiny Paradise – #302 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Discover the best rugs for small living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms and more. Plus, learn how rugs can define areas, add comfort, and enhance the charm of your tiny home.
The post 5 Must-Have Rugs for Your Tiny Home (and Why They Matter!) appeared first on The Tiny House.
Image by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash City dwellers are turning to tiny apartments and micro homes to combat the high prices of houses and cost of living. This also results in easier cleaning and maintenance, promoting a clutter-free, more organized space. However, with tiny houses come challenges with lighting. Too much light can make the […]
The post 5 Tiny House Lighting Ideas to Brighten Your Space appeared first on The Tiny House.
Over the past decade, Jenna has expanded her influence through her amazingly popular YouTube channel, Tiny House Giant Journey, which showcases unique tiny house tours and stories. We'll discuss the challenges of maintaining and repairing a tiny house, especially when it's used primarily as a vacation rental, but it wasn't built as one initially. Jenna will also share the incredible stories behind some of the most remarkable tiny houses she has encountered, including one nestled in an animal sanctuary. Whether you're a tiny house veteran or just curious, you'll find plenty of inspiration and practical insights in today's episode.
The post The Versatility and Challenges of Living a Tiny Lifestyle with Jenna Kausal – #301 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Candace and her husband have a unique story, having coordinated their tiny house build in the United States while still living in South Africa entirely via WhatsApp video calls. With a background as a declutter coach, life coach, retreat leader, and yoga teacher, Candace brings us insights on how to create a life filled with intentionality and joy. We'll dive into her journey from South Africa to the United States, explore the impact of decluttering on mental and emotional well-being, and get inspired by her advice for those considering the tiny house lifestyle. Stay tuned as we learn from Candace's experience and enthusiasm for creating a life you'll love.
The post Secrets to a Fulfilling Tiny House Lifestyle with Candace Kentridge-Britton – #300 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Kaylee, a passionate advocate for the tiny house movement and a biology teacher with a deep interest in sustainable living. Kaylee will share the inspiring saga of her journey building her own tiny house and how it reshaped her perspective on simple, ecological living. We'll dig into the challenges she faced from zoning laws to financial hurdles and how these experiences fueled her advocacy for tiny house legalization. Kaylee's story is not just about building a small home, but about building a life aligned with values of minimalism and sustainability.
The post She’s Building Her Tiny House Dream Against All Odds with Kaylee – #299 appeared first on The Tiny House.
MJ has not only built and rented out nine unique tiny homes but has just embarked on transforming a construction trailer into an alluring tiny home called “My Tiny Bunkhouse.” In today's episode, MJ will share her innovative approach to waterless and odorless toilet systems that enhance both guest and staff experiences. We'll also delve into the art of rehabilitating and renovating tiny structures, a skill MJ has honed over years of experience, turning dilapidated shells into dream homes with sustainable practices. Join us for a comprehensive discussion on maintaining high occupancy rates, exceptional guest satisfaction, and the strategic intricacies of managing multiple tiny house locations efficiently.
The post How to Transform Tiny Homes into Profitable Rental Ventures with MJ Boyle – #298 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Lucy is not only a dedicated tiny house dweller, but also a teacher, wellness enthusiast, and the host of the Tiny House Conversations podcast. Over the next hour, we'll dive into how living tiny has profoundly integrated with her values of minimalism, health and environmental consciousness. Lucy will share her personal journey into tiny living, her insights on designing for health and minimizing environmental impacts, and how her experiences have shaped her podcast.
The post How to Build a Health-Conscious Tiny Home with Lucy Lich – #297 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Janet is deeply involved in the tiny house movement, leading the Tiny House Alliance USA and serving as the membership secretary of the ASTM International Tiny House Subcommittee. In this episode, Janet will share insights into the current state of the tiny house market, the impact of recent economic shifts, and the ongoing efforts to develop standards that ensure safety, affordability, and compliance in the industry. She’ll also discuss the importance of certification for owner-builders and the essential role of inclusive regulations.
The post Inside the Effort to Develop a Tiny House Standard for the Entire World with Janet Thome – #296 appeared first on The Tiny House.
today we delve into the story of a listener turned tiny home owner, Maegan Bell. Maegan is an active duty Army logistics officer who's going to share with us how she exchanged the blueprints of a traditional house for the compact efficiency of a custom-built tiny home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. We'll explore the challenges of setting up utilities, the joys of bringing family closer together, and how tiny homes can offer a unique solution for military families on the move. Maegan's journey is filled with insights and practical advice for anyone considering this lifestyle. So if you're curious about the tiny house movement or looking for tips on how to make it work for your family, stay tuned for this fascinating conversation.
The post How a Military Family Found Connection and Serenity in Tiny House Living with Maegan Bell – #295 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Today we're exploring the cozy nooks of park model tiny homes with Cindy Ballaro. Cindy is not only a resident of a charming tiny home, but also a multipreneur who wears many hats including that of a publisher and marketer. Living in the picturesque mountains of North Carolina, Cindy has turned her sunflower-themed tiny house into a haven for both living and Airbnb guests. She's going to share with us the unique benefits and challenges of choosing a park model over a traditional towable tiny house, and how this lifestyle complements her entrepreneurial endeavors. So if you're intrigued by the community living aspect of tiny houses or are considering a park model for your own downsized life, this episode is for you.
The post Introduction to the Park Model Tiny House Lifestyle with Cindy Ballaro – #294 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I am thrilled to introduce our guest, Mike Crowhurst, a seasoned tiny house dweller and the creative mind behind one of the most unique tiny homes I’ve seen in a while! Mike and his wife Heidi spent three years crafting a 45-foot ex-refrigerated semi-trailer into a gorgeous tiny home. Throughout this episode, we'll dive into Mike's journey of tiny house living, exploring not just the practical aspects like custom cabinetry and space-saving features like an innovative elevator bed, but also the sustainable lifestyle that drives him. We'll also get into the nitty-gritty of converting a semi-trailer into a comfortable and functional living space, addressing the challenges and rewards such a project brings. So buckle up as we get a tour of Mike’s impressive tiny house and learn how he has optimized every inch of his home for maximum living.
The post Transforming a Semi-Trailer into a Stylish Tiny Home with Mike Crowhurst – #293 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Judy comes to us with 36 years of experience as a custom builder and remodeler, with a passion for well-appointed, smaller living spaces. We'll dive into her expert advice on maximizing functionality without sacrificing style and comfort, and explore her journey from a 4,000 square foot dwelling to her favorite 1,100 square foot home. From Murphy beds to curated maximalism, Judy is here to share her wealth of knowledge on living intentionally within our means. So get ready to learn from Judy's inspiring experiences and practical tips on downsizing your space, but not your life.
The post The Art of Resizing: Living Big in a Smaller Home with Judy Granlee-Gates – #292 appeared first on The Tiny House.
We'll delve into the nuts and bolts of building your own compost toilet using Throne’s DIY kit, tackle common problems with existing designs, and explore the benefits and drawbacks of different styles of compost toilet. Our guest Elizabeth lived full time with her family in their self-built skoolie, and went through three different compost toilet designs before finally settling on the Throne. Stay tuned as Elizabeth shares wisdom from life on the road, and the do’s and don’ts for successful compost toilet in your home.
The post Building and Using Compost Toilets for Tiny Homes with Elizabeth – #291 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Today we're venturing off the beaten path and into the realm of off-grid living with our inspiring guest, Reesa, who has carved out her own piece of paradise on a multi-generational homestead. Throughout our conversation, we'll uncover the nuts and bolts of Reesa's journey, from the inspirations that sparked her transition to a scaled-down, sustainable lifestyle, to the practicalities of building an affordable tiny home from an Amish-built shed shell. We'll dive into her low-tech solutions for heating, water storage, and even delve into the world of humanure composting.
The post Tips for Low-Tech Off-Grid Living with Reesa – #290 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Over the past five years, Kim DeLaney has made strides in transforming the traditional housing model by utilizing her business savvy and passion for sustainability to champion tiny home communities. From changing municipal ordinances to negotiating real estate development deals, she's on the forefront of creating affordable equitable housing solutions. We're going to dive into her journey exploring how a crisis during the pandemic turned into an innovative approach to housing and her ambitious plans for the future, including her work with sustainable materials like hemp and bamboo, and the upcoming Carolina Tiny House Festival, which is April 12 through 14th that Kim is organizing. So stay tuned as we discussed all things tiny living and the impact it can have on our communities with the insightful Kim DeLaney.
The post Breaking Barriers in Affordable Housing with Tiny Home Communities with Kim DeLaney – #289 appeared first on The Tiny House.
This episode features an incredible guest, Kai, who's not only living in a house truck but has a wealth of knowledge about the ins and outs of this unique lifestyle. We'll explore Kai's journey, from finding and customizing a commercial truck to navigating the practical challenges of living in her unique tiny home. Kai will share their experiences with insulation, maintenance, and the daily joys and hardships of the tiny life. Get ready to be inspired and informed by Kai's fascinating insights into the world of house trucks and the tiny house movement.
The post DIY Living Spaces: Exploring the Creativity and Challenges of House Truck Living with Kai – #288 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Tiffany DaSilva is a passionate real estate investor and loan officer with a love for tiny living. She's here to share her incredible journey of building her own twenty by eight and a half foot handcrafted tiny house while she was still in high school. Tiffany’s story is truly inspiring from learning carpentry, plumbing and electrical work to overcoming challenges and societal prejudice as a young female builder. Tiffany's perseverance and dedication to tiny living are sure to inspire and educate us all. So without further ado, let's dive into the world of tiny living with Tiffany.
The post Building a DIY Tiny House for Under $20k While Still in High School with Tiffany DaSilva – #287 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Welcome to the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast, where we delve into the world of tiny living. In this episode, I’m sharing my own captivating [and slightly humorous] tale of dealing with unexpected visitors in my tiny house. It all starting with light scratching sounds, which led to the shocking discovery of these unexpected guests. In this episode, I am walking you through the entire process of diagnosing, cleaning, and ultimately sealing off the entry points for these tiny intruders. With valuable lessons and practical advice for both builders and current tiny house dwellers, let’s explore the importance of preemptive measures and the necessity of addressing pest issues promptly. Stay tuned for helpful insights and a real-life tale of tiny house pest control adventure.
The post There’s A Mouse in the [Tiny] House with Ethan Waldman – #286 appeared first on The Tiny House.
As the president of THEA and the director of Government relations for the American Tiny House Association, Dan Fitzpatrick is at the forefront of the movement to legalize tiny homes as a viable housing option in the United States. In this episode, we'll dive into the progress being made in legalizing tiny homes, the collaboration between Tiny Home Industry Association and the International Code Council, and the challenges faced in navigating zoning constraints for placing tiny houses. We'll also discuss the importance of working with local leaders to bring about change, as well as Dan's work with Vera Struck and the introduction of a bill to legalize tiny homes in Massachusetts. Whether you're a tiny house enthusiast or simply curious about the movement, this episode will provide valuable insights into the future of legal tiny homes.
The post The Effort to Legalize Tiny Homes and Create a National Standard with Dan Fitzpatrick – #285 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Nate Murphy is an adventurous builder and filmmaker who has taken on not just one, but countless incredible projects, converting several vans into cozy living spaces and renovating a centuries old house in the beautiful Pyrenees Mountains. In our conversation, Nate shares his experience of building a van from scratch, documenting every step of the process with over 100 hours of footage. We'll dive into the challenges of editing that massive amount of content down into 70 videos, and the exhaustion and determination that went into the final product. Nate also opens up about the intense filming process, and the unique aspects of Van Conversion that make it both intimidating and incredibly cool. But that's not all. Nate goes beyond the van and shares the captivating story of renovating a 250 year old house in the scenic Pyrenees, stripping down the structure to its bare bones to envisioning its future, we'll hear about the demanding and rewarding journey of bringing new life to this historical gem. Whether you're curious about van conversions, tiny house living or the challenges of renovating an old house, this episode has something for everyone. So sit back, relax and prepare to be inspired by Nate Murphy's tales of adventure construction in the pursuit of a simpler way of living.
The post Investing in Your DIY Skills: Turning Van Life into a Profitable Venture with Nate Murphy – #284 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I met Vera a decade ago and we were both invited to speak at Deek Diedrickson's Tiny House workshop in Connecticut. She explained that my first pictures of my tiny house that I built in 2012 with rain screen inspired her to deep dive into everything from thermal bridging to mold mitigation for the build of her silver bullet tiny house. When Vera takes on a project or issue you can bet she's thorough, persistent, and resilient. Vera has been on our podcast twice before, last time she discussed pandemic tiny house living at the very beginning of 2020. Today, she will help us learn about her process of becoming an active participant in democracy to legalize the very housing product she's lived in for over a decade in Massachusetts.
The post Tiny House Dweller Reluctantly Becomes Lobbyist to Legalize Movable Tiny Houses with Vera Struck – #283 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Pamela has a fascinating story to share about her life aboard a 100 year old tugboat called the Zenia Sophia. From the day before she got married, Pamela and her husband Ulrich, also known as Rich, have made this boat their home, raising their two daughters on board and creating a unique and adventurous lifestyle. We'll dive into their journey from the challenges of finding moorage for their 65 foot long boat, to the exhilaration of a rocky crossing. We'll also learn about the importance of supervising children around bodies of water and get a glimpse into the vibrant liveaboard community on the Pacific Northwest Coast. So let's jump right in and discover the joys and challenges of living on the water with Pamela.
The post Discovering the Joys and Challenges of Living on a Tugboat with Pamela Pakker-Kozicki – #282 appeared first on The Tiny House.
The type of toilet you choose to install in your tiny home will definitely affect things like your budget, your other systems, and your ability to travel. It's a question that I get from time to time, so I thought I would share this short and informational session with you. I am talking through what I chose for my tiny house, the different types of toilets that exist, how they work, and the pros and cons of each.
The post Toilet Types for Tiny Houses with Ethan Waldman – #281 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Gerry Wolter is an inventor and entrepreneur who has revolutionized tankless hot water systems for small and tiny houses. His company, PrecisionTemp, offers innovative and American-made water heating solutions for both heat and hot water. From onboard hot water for sailors to portable heaters for firefighters and tiny house tankless heaters, Gerry has done it all. Today, he's here to share his expertise on compact cutting-edge heating solutions for the tiny house movement. We’ll talk through the different models that PrecisionTemp offers and discuss why you might choose one over the other. Plus, we discuss hydronic heat and why it’s an option more people should consider. If you're planning to build a tiny home you won't want to miss this episode. So, let's dive in and learn from Gerry Wolter.
The post On Demand Hot Water for Tiny Homes: Discovering PrecisionTemp’s Innovative Solutions with Gerry Wolter – #280 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Laura Lynch is a certified financial planner who specializes in helping people financially execute their plans to go tiny. Laura shares her insights on the unique aspects of tiny living, including the financial considerations and the importance of creating a supportive community for the longterm. She also opens up about her own journey towards embracing the tiny lifestyle and aligning all aspects of her life to her authentic self. We'll discuss the financial questions and challenges that arise when it comes to tiny houses, such as loans, and prioritizing sweat equity. It's going to be an eye-opening conversation, so let's dive in and explore the world of Less House, More Moolah, with Laura Lynch.
The post Creating Financial Security in a Tiny House: Insights from a Certified Financial Planner with Laura Lynch – #279 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Jinkie Echols is an incredible advocate for affordable housing and the founder of Peace Wind, a successful tiny house community in Cocoa, Florida. Jinkie shares her remarkable journey and the lessons she's learned along the way, from buying the raw land, to getting the codes and zoning changed, all the way to developing the houses and opening up for business. With her experience as a builder, developer, and landlord of her own tiny house community, Jinkie has firsthand insights into the challenges and rewards of creating an affordable and diverse community. Jinkie's passion for community building and the unique perspective she brings to this male dominated field make this episode a must listen. Sit back and prepare to be inspired as we explore the world of affordable housing and Tiny House communities with Jinkie Echols.
The post The Journey to Building an Affordable Tiny House Community with Jinkie Echols – #278 appeared first on The Tiny House.
This episode features special guest, Jason Gastman, the new business development manager for FOTILE America. We are discussing Jason's role in bringing FOTILE appliances into the mainstream markets, making them a premier choice for appliances with premium retailers, architects, and builders. Jason has been focusing on providing high quality appliances such as hoods, ovens, and cooktops to the tiny house community and upscale compact living spaces. One of their standout products is the in-sink dishwasher, which has gained popularity in the tiny home and ADU builder markets due to its compact, ergonomic, and energy efficient design. We'll be talking about the challenges of promoting these products and how FOTILE sets itself apart from other brands in terms of quality, design, and innovative features. Stay tuned for my conversation about small and tiny appliances with Jason Gastman.
The post Creating the Perfect Tiny Kitchen: FOTILE’s Micro Appliances for the Tiny House Lifestyle with Jason Gastman – #277 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Tracy and her husband Austin have built a reputation as experienced ethical and high quality tiny home builders, with Austin leading the way by being part of almost 500 Tiny House builds since 2014. They also serve as industry consultants and subject matter experts supporting tiny home initiatives both locally and nationally for building code standards and navigating the placement of tiny homes legally. If you've heard the recent news out of Colorado regarding new Tiny House regulations, you'll be happy to know that Tracy served on the committee to help create them and she'll walk us through exactly what the new law does and doesn't do. Stay tuned to discover more insights from Tracy Manchego-Baker of Tiny Building Experts.
The post The 3 Keys to Parking Your Tiny House Legally in Colorado – #276 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Laura Kuntz is an elementary school teacher and a mother of three grown daughters. She's here to share her journey of building her own tiny house. Since high school Laura has been obsessed with the idea of living in a small home and now as an empty nester, she finally had the perfect opportunity to make her dream a reality. In this episode, Laura walks us through the steps she took to go from being a tiny house enthusiast to a proud homeowner. She shares insights about finding the right location, navigating building codes and permits in the strict state of Massachusetts, and her unique choice of building her tiny house on a foundation instead of on wheels and acting as her own contractor. Stay tuned for an inspiring conversation with Laura about turning a lifelong dream into a tangible, beautiful home.
The post Tiny Dreams on a Budget: Navigating Construction as Your Own Contractor with Laura Kuntz- #275 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Beau and Kelly are a full time family building a Texas homestead. They are a family with five kids living in a tiny house that is just over 800 square feet and we just scratched the surface of their really cool lifestyle in this interview. If you are interested in homesteading, buying raw land or doing a shed to tiny house conversion, this episode is for you, because Beau just has so much info and he's so thoughtful about it. In this conversation, we dive into the start of their project, what the land was like when they first bought it, what they had to do and why they chose a shed conversion.
The post From North Dallas to Homesteading Paradise: The Story of One Family’s Tiny Transition – #274 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Mallory is a tiny house dweller who lives in a stationary tiny house that she calls Mal's mushroom house. The house is beautifully renovated and has a fairy tale like theme and feel to it. In this conversation, we'll learn about the history of Mal's mushroom house and the interior renovations that Mallory did to the house, I was really surprised how inexpensive she was able to do these renovations for, using things like countertop wrapping, cabinet wraps, and creating an accent wall using trim board. I get Mallory to spill her secrets about where she actually stores her stuff and the challenges of living tiny. It's really fun, quick conversation, and I hope you stick around to hear about Mallory's tiny house lifestyle.
The post Exploring Mal’s Mushroom House: A Fairy Tale-Styled Tiny Home with Innovative Renovations – #273 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Today’s episode is with fan favorite Derek "Deek" Diedricksen. Deek has been on the show several times, but I invited him back because it is the 10th anniversary of his super fun and unique signature tiny house building workshop, called Tiny House Summer Camp. In this interview, we'll talk about Deek’s hands on approach to workshops and how he structures these events so you can get your hands on power tools and build, to really get a sense of what it's like to build a small home. It wouldn't be an interview with Deek without lots of fun stories. We talk about how he has built small homes on public land that are completely hidden from view, how to start small, and other workshops and writing projects he has on his plate. Deek is always cooking up lots of interesting things, tune into this really fun conversation.
The post Treehouses and Funky Shelter: Exploring the Work and Workshops of Derek ‘Deek’ Diedricksen – #272 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Jeff Waldman is a builder, a tinkerer, a designer, and over the course of several years, he and his partner Molly designed and built a beautiful retreat in the Redwoods with lots of help from friends. Unfortunately, it was lost in a 2020 wildfire. In this conversation, we will talk about the benefits of building with your community and involving your friends in your builds. We also talk about the importance of getting started with something small. Maybe not starting with a tiny house first, but with a chicken coop or a picnic table. Jeff is also the author of a best selling book called Tools, The Ultimate Guide and we talk about why he wrote it and who it's for. I really enjoyed this conversation with Jeff and I know you will too. I hope you stick around.
The post Building Relationships and Skills Through Workshops and Projects – #271 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Are you confused by all the latest tiny house news relating to regulations and building code? Today, Lee Pera, is joining the show to help us untangle all of the regulatory happenings in the tiny house world. In this conversation, we delve into various topics including the IRC, Appendix Q, and ASTM efforts to create tiny house standards. Lee shares recent developments in the regulatory landscape and explains what they mean for living tiny legally. This episode of the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast provides valuable insights into the legal landscape of tiny house living and offers practical advice for those interested in building or living in a tiny home.
The post Untangling the Tiny House Legal Landscape with Lee Pera – #270 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Kristie Wolfe returns to the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast with a conversation you do not want to miss. Her initial tiny house project in 2011 led her down a path she never expected. Kristie is passionate about creating unique, handcrafted experiences including a tree house in Hawaii, an underground hobbit hole in Washington and a potato hotel in her hometown of Boise. In this conversation we dive into Kristies latest and most ambitious project to date, Moonpass lookouts and the inspiration behind them. Discover the secrets behind her success and learn how she continues to dominate the Airbnb market. Get ready for an inspiring and enlightening conversation with Kristie Wolfe.
The post Making Your Home Unique: Tips from an Experienced Tiny House Builder – #269 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Otis Sanders has spent the past five years constructing his dream home in the great outdoors, all alone in the woods. Otis found serenity and satisfaction in the process of creating a space that he could call his own. In this episode, we'll be discussing the challenges of building solo in the woods, including how to transport materials, manage your time, and ensure your safety when you're working alone. We'll also talk about the importance of sustainability and reducing environmental waste in the construction process. And finally, we'll dive into the joys of creating something beautiful and unique with your own hands and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. So if you're considering building your own tiny house, or you're simply interested in sustainability or the joys of living in the woods, this episode is for you.
The post Building Solo: How to Create a Sustainable Dream Home Alone in the Woods with Otis Sanders – #268 appeared first on The Tiny House.
The post Music and Sustainability: A Tiny House Lifestyle with Ashley Mazanec appeared first on The Tiny House.
Blake and his wife, Alex are 23 year old newlyweds living off the grid, tiny house life in Northern Arizona. Their 400 square foot shed conversion is a testament to their creativity and resourcefulness. In this episode, Blake shares the story behind their unique home from customization details to navigating the fine line between shed and residential structure. Get ready to be inspired by their journey into tiny house living and learn all about what it takes to convert a shed to a tiny house on this episode with Blake Oelfke.
The post From Shed to Off-Grid Tiny House: Customization and Challenges with Blake Oelfke – #266 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Interested in trying out minimalism without committing to downsizing all of your stuff? This week, author and minimalist lifestyle expert, Courtney Carver, shares her insights on the benefits of living with less. We dive into how simplifying our lives creates time and space and discuss the basics of Project 333, a minimalist fashion challenge that allows people to get started with living simply without over-committing. Whether you're new to the concept of minimalism or looking for inspiration to continue on your journey, this episode is packed with valuable tips and resources to help you create a life of abundance with fewer possessions, work smarter, not harder, and experience the life-changing power of simplicity.
The post Reinventing Your Closet: 33 Items for 3 Months with Courtney Carver – #265 appeared first on The Tiny House.
What if everything you’ve ever owned was suddenly destroyed by a wildfire? Nicole Sallak Anderson shares her experience of losing her California home to wildfire, how she found solace in documenting her post-fire journey, and how her memoir ultimately led her to tiny house living. Nicole is full of practical advice and insights on tiny house living and the importance of resilience in the face of adversity!
The post Rebuilding from a Wildfire: One Family’s Journey to Tiny House Living with Nicole Sallak Anderson – #264 appeared first on The Tiny House.
During the past couple of years, I’ve been watching Lazrin Schenck’s tiny house build take shape here in Vermont. Lazrin built her own tiny house, moved it three times, and recently purchased land to live on. Working at a job that has the flexibility to accommodate her projects, Lazrin has been constantly improving her surroundings in some pretty impressive ways. I hope you enjoy her perspective and persevering spirit as much as I do!
The post The Freedom and Flexibility of Tiny House Living with Lazrin Schenck – #263 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Are you curious about what it would be like to sleep in a tiny house that is nestled in a treetop or hanging from the side of a cliff? Django Kroner, founder of The Canopy Crew, shares his insights on the challenges of building in unconventional locations and the special considerations required for these remarkable structures. Get ready to be inspired by the ingenious ideas behind these incredible tiny spaces.
The post Building Tiny Homes on Cliff Sides and Treetops with Django Kroner – #262 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Jay Shafer is often referred to as the granddaddy of tiny homes. He’s largely credited with sparking this modern-day movement. It all started back in the ’90s when he moved into a 14-foot Airstream. He began to understand what he needed for simple living and that, for one, included better insulation. So he set out […]
The post Tiny Housing Regulations: Exploring the Past, Present and Future With Jay Shafer appeared first on The Tiny House.
Organization is one little piece of the minimalism and simplicity movement and this week’s guest is an expert! Amanda Clark, owner of Ever So Organized, brings us tips, techniques, and wisdom she’s learned from helping over 100 families per year. In this interview, we discuss general clutter, principles of minimalism, common decluttering roadblocks, and Amanda shares her favorite organizing products!
The post Conquering Family Clutter with Amanda Clark – #261 appeared first on The Tiny House.
After coming across photos of a tiny house being placed by a crane, I became fascinated with the owner's story. That owner is Sabine, also known as Bleeptrack, an artist and creative technologist who chronicles her art and tiny house experiences on the "Work in Progress" YouTube series. Bleeptrack’s home is a beautiful and modern-looking prefabricated home - something I think will gain popularity in the United States. In this conversation we talk about the regulations and realities of living tiny in Germany, Bleeptrack’s unique journey and insights into tiny living, and more.
The post Living in a Pre-Fab Tiny House in Germany with Bleeptrack – #260 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a tiny house in Iceland? Damien and Steph, the creative duo behind Tiny Spaces, recently traveled to Iceland to film some of the most extraordinary tiny and small houses and they share their insights and experiences with me. In this episode, we explore the unique design features of these tiny spaces, the building materials and systems that keep these remote spaces safe from the harsh climate, and some insights that people can gain by exploring the tiny lifestyle.
The post Exploring the Tiny Houses of Iceland with Damien and Steph – #259 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I've always loved the idea of his and hers tiny houses, where a couple downsizes into two separate houses that are parked next to one another. Well, I finally found the perfect guests to interview about it! Elisa and Ryk share their insights on why they chose two tiny houses, the logistics of parking them, and how living tiny has changed their relationship. They have lots of great lessons to share about living tiny and advice for other couples who are considering dual tiny homes.
The post Tiny For Couples: Two Tiny Houses Instead of One!? with Elisa and Ryk – #258 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Amanda Kovattana is a 6-year veteran of tiny house living who lives completely off-grid in the drought-ridden landscape of Northern California. In this conversation, we get a sense of all of the ingenious systems that Amanda has developed to live tiny comfortably while also working within the bounds of the resources she has - including an interesting way of collecting rainwater. During the course of the conversation, I also learned about the alternative to a composting toilet that Amanda uses called Bokashi, which is a fermentation method she’s very knowledgeable about.
The post The Girls’ Guide To Off-Grid Living with Amanda Kovattana – #257 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Can honeybees offer valuable insights into the worlds of investing and housing? As Hank Svec converts a 52-acre oceanside property into 1.5-acre lots for tiny homes and transforms his 50-acre farm into a honeybee sanctuary, he is eager to share his experiences and expertise. In this enlightening conversation, Hank shares the details of his tiny home development, delves into the concept of value investing, and explains how bees can teach us the benefits of a patient, value-oriented approach to wealth accumulation.
The post Would a Honey Bee Invest in a Tiny Home? with Henry Svec – #256 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Why would someone choose an RV over a tiny house? When Brian Aleksivich and his wife downsized from a 35-acre homestead they chose an RV over a tiny house on wheels. In this episode, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of their choice, factors to consider when choosing between an RV and a tiny house, and also touch on the challenges of living with three Saint Bernards in a relatively small space.
The post When to Consider an RV instead of a Tiny Home with Brian Aleksivich – #255 appeared first on The Tiny House.
How can minimalism inform both your lifestyle and building techniques? This week, a multidisciplinary artist talked to me about her process as she built her first tiny house in 2019 with no prior building experience. Carina Gibson’s beautifully designed tiny house was built on a tight budget using repurposed materials and her imagination. In this intriguing conversation, she explains why she calls herself Dirtbag Minimal on her online profiles, how minimalism plays a role in her building and lifestyle choices, and why she just had to build a second tiny house studio.
The post DIY Building a Beautiful Tiny House for $20k with Carina Gibson – #254 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I love sharing insightful interviews of everyday people who are living in or building tiny homes in different and unique ways. Tina Quintana is a teacher who has maximized the potential of her tiny abode as a studio space, a guest room, a full-time tiny home, and even a virtual classroom. We dive into why she opted to build out a shell and how it works for her. Tina offers valuable information and encouragement for those who lack building experience but still want to be involved in their tiny home build.
The post Tiny Profile: Art Teacher’s Tiny Home and Studio with Tina Quintana – #253 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Are you struggling to choose the perfect foundation for your tiny home? This week, Bill Taha shares expert insights and tips from a structural engineer’s perspective. He explains which materials are best suited for different climates, offers advice on how to safely anchor your tiny home, and suggests budget-friendly options for building a sturdy foundation. Check out the video of our interview and Bill's informative presentation in the show notes at thetinyhouse.net/252.
The post What a Structural Engineer Thinks about Tiny House Foundations with Bill Taha – #252 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Kate Bohn is among the voices that I've been eager to feature from Tiny House Engage, my online tiny house community. In this episode, Kate explains how she turned her tiny house dream into a reality, even after her original builder was unable to complete her build. She and her husband completed the build from an empty shell while negotiating rising costs and learning new skills.
The post Her Builder Bailed: A Tiny House Journey From Shell to Home with Kate Bohn #252 appeared first on The Tiny House.
This week’s episode is all about the philosophy that helped shape a nomad’s life. Teekay Rezeau-Merah talks to me about veganism, extreme minimalism, and nomadism and the principles that guide him in this world.
The post The Philosophy of Extreme Minimalism with Teekay Rezeau-Merah – #250 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Want to be inspired by someone who decided to jump into the tiny lifestyle using what he had? Matt Coldren didn’t wait for permission or save up a bunch of money for his tiny home. He bought an inexpensive camper shell and moved right into his pickup truck! Matt’s living life his way while he travels for work and plans to live tiny well into the future.
The post He’s Living the Tiny Dream in an $800 Truck Bed Camper with Matt Coldren – #249 appeared first on The Tiny House.
This week, I got to talk to an amazing couple that has been living in their van for about four years! Frankie and Alex, aka FnA Van Life, tell me about living nomadically in Central and South America and why they upgraded from their first van to their second van after about a year. Frankie and Alex are also podcasters and YouTubers, and they have some great stories, amazing tips, and wonderful energy to share.
The post International Vanlife Adventures and Challenges with Frankie and Alex – #248 appeared first on The Tiny House.
This week’s guest is a longtime member of my online tiny house community, Tiny House Engage. His name is Bill Knapp, and I’ve been fortunate to be able to watch his build take shape over the last couple of years. Bill is a retired educator and he’s quite skilled in construction, among other disciplines. He put together a fascinating PowerPoint presentation so we decided to share the video of this podcast interview, which I normally don’t share beyond Tiny House Engage.
The post Retired Teacher Builds DIY Tiny House on Wheels with Bill Knapp – #247 appeared first on The Tiny House.
When I built my tiny house 10 years ago, I missed out on some of the more modern smart home things, like smart locks and smart thermostats. I’ve spent the last few months modernizing the house to make it work as an Airbnb in its current location. In this episode, I review all of the things I purchased for my tiny house in 2022. Whether you’re planning or building your tiny house or already living tiny, you can definitely find things in this episode to make your tiny lifestyle a whole lot easier.
The post The Ultimate Heated Water Hose and Other Smart Products I Recommend for Tiny Living – #245 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Designing for small places has its own special challenges. Who better to talk me through approaching the design of your tiny house than an experienced designer who specializes in small spaces? Sarah Bronstein, who both designs for small spaces and lives in an Avion LaGrande travel trailer, talks to me about her own transition to living tiny, her favorite interior design products for small spaces, and helpful tips for you as you plan out your tiny house.
The post Interior Design for Small Spaces with Sarah Bronstein – #244 appeared first on The Tiny House.
2022 was an incredibly busy and wonderful year! This week, I give you a recap of the Tiny House Summit, an update on my personal tiny house, and I also share some of my favorite episodes of the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast. Thank you for listening to the show every week. Happy New Year!
The post 2022 Year in Review – #243 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Why are tiny house festivals important? My guest, Renee Seevers, is the creator of TinyFest Midwest, TinyFest California, and recently TinyFest Southwest. Renee tells me about switching from a tiny house to a skoolie, what it’s like running the festivals, and what you can expect at one of her TinyFest events.
The post She Went Tiny and Then Created TinyFest with Renee Seevers – #242 appeared first on The Tiny House.
The post Reconnecting to the Earth through Bioregional Building with Steven Martyn – #241 appeared first on The Tiny House.
What really happens when you commit to a minimalist lifestyle? Matt Paxton has a uniquely interesting minimalist lifestyle with his wife and 7 children. Matt uses his fantastic storytelling skills to talk about the effects of minimalism on a family, how to continue being minimalist, and the effects of minimalism on the rest of your life.
The post The Bumpy Road to Minimalism: Practical Tips from Hoarders Star, Matt Paxton! – #240 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I found out about this week’s guest because she released a hilarious music video about romance in the tiny house loft, inspired by her own tiny house. Annie Corbett is a musician and in this conversation, she tells me how going tiny affected her music, what makes her tiny house unique, and how five years of tiny living have been for her.
The post Musician Makes Tiny House a Subject of her Songwriting with Annie Corbett – #239 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Why would an entrepreneur who has raised millions of dollars through crowdfunding live in a van? Vanlife doesn’t seem common amongst the startup and tech crowd, yet Rob Rast is living this alternative lifestyle while successfully running his e-mobility business. In this interview, we cover how living in the van brings Rob closer to his work with electronic bikes and skateboards, plus how those devices can get you around in an eco-friendly way.
The post Can a Successful Entrepreneur Live in a Van?! with Rob Rast – #237 appeared first on The Tiny House.
There are some great tiny house builders out there, but there are also some unscrupulous builders who are cutting corners and putting the tiny house dwellers that buy from them in potentially unsafe situations. Jenifer Levini goes in depth about what the codes and certifications mean, why they are important, and how you can determine whether a house was built to these standards.
The post Buyer Beware: How to Work with a Tiny House Builder with Jenifer Levini – #236 appeared first on The Tiny House.
What is sustainability? Amanda Gunawan is an architect who is dedicated to sustainable development, inspired by Japanese culture. In this episode, Amanda tells us about her perspective on sustainability and how architects can build spaces that last through their design choices. Although she does not design tiny homes, there is a lot of crossover in ideas with the tiny house movement that we can learn from and incorporate into tiny house design.
The post Incorporating Minimalism and Sustainability in Architecture and Design with Amanda Gunawan – #235 appeared first on The Tiny House.
How does a tiny home community builder get good-quality tiny homes quickly? Abby Shank is solving that problem by partnering with other companies, essentially becoming a tiny house builder who doesn’t build all of the houses herself! We discuss the evolution of Tiny Estates from a community of vacation homes to permanent residences and all of the work that that shift entails, plus her new business model.
The post Meeting the Demand for Tiny Homes through Modular Building with Abby Shank – #234 appeared first on The Tiny House.
You may have seen Macy Miller hinting about something a few weeks ago. The time has finally come for me to be able to share that with everyone! Even though tiny house festivals are starting up again, I thought it would be great to put on an online event that anyone worldwide can attend without having to travel. It’s called the Tiny House Summit and it’s a completely free 3-day online event. In this excerpt from the Summit, Macy shares why tiny houses are important and I thought it was too good not to share with the podcast audience. If you’re feeling unsure about your choice to go tiny, this interview will help you feel more confident and be a better advocate for yourself and your own lifestyle. You can see the lineup and register for the Summit at tinyhousesummit.co.
The post Why Tiny Homes are Important + A Big Announcement with Macy Miller – #233 appeared first on The Tiny House.
This is a great real conversation about what it’s like living tiny. Megan Lockhart doesn’t try to hide the things that are struggles for her and her family and she’s also great about advocating for the benefits of tiny living. We talk about the pros and cons, trials and tribulations, and the immense benefit Megan feels she and her family get from the tiny house lifestyle. Stick around after the credits to hear a bonus session where Megan shares how her builder forgot to install the furnace in her tiny house and how it wreaked havoc in their first winter!
The post My Builder Forgot My Furnace with Megan Lockhart – #232 appeared first on The Tiny House.
This has to be the most unique tiny house living situation I’ve ever seen! Sarah, Brandon, and their dog Iko live in a 225-square-foot tiny home that floats on a lake in The Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. They live fully off-grid with no cell service and they are only accessible by boat. In this conversation, Sarah and Brandon graciously and openly share why and how they live this way, plus how much it costs and some of the unique challenges that present when you live on a lake in a temperate rainforest.
The post An Amazingly Unique Floating Tiny Home Lifestyle with Sarah and Brandon – #231 appeared first on The Tiny House.
We’re changing it up a little bit this week! Lucy Lich interviewed me on her podcast, Tiny House Conversations. We had an in-depth conversation about some of the most important decisions you need to make to plan and build a tiny house successfully. We also talked through my best-selling resource, Tiny House Decisions. Lucy is a great interviewer and it was a pleasure to be on her show!
The post Ethan Waldman on the Tiny House Conversations Podcast – #230 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Although we’ve had skoolie owners and builders on the show before, this week’s guest is our first short skoolie dweller. Stefanie Wenceslao talks to me about what it’s like to be new to the tiny lifestyle, how to get to know other tiny house nomads, and what she’s learned so far through trial and error. Short school buses are in the same class as vans, U-Hauls, and ambulances, which means that this wonderful option for full-time tiny living is sometimes overlooked, but Stefanie explains why they make great rolling homes.
The post Starting on the Short Skoolie Lifestyle with Stefanie Wenceslao – #229 appeared first on The Tiny House.
What is cohousing? Charles Durrett, who literally coined the phrase, explains what cohousing is, how it’s funded, and how the communities are set up. We also discuss how tiny house cohousing communities are a solution to homelessness and how any concerned citizen can use the cohousing model to solve the issue of homelessness in their own area.
The post How Cohousing can Help Solve Affordable Housing and Homelessness with Charles Durrett – #228 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Clutter affects us all, no matter how big or how tiny our houses are. Connie Ellefson believes that clutter ties up a huge amount of energy and creativity. In her new book, Clear The Space Feel The Rush, Connie offers tons of strategies for how you can get started with decluttering and organizing, and she shares some really good ones in this interview.
The post Clear the Space Feel the Rush with Connie Ellefson – #227 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Are you curious about how to live tiny with children and pets? This week’s guest, Alexis Monkhouse, is a single mom who has been living in her tiny house for four years, along with her “Boss Baby” and their two dogs. She has a strong sense of what works and what doesn’t regarding tiny living and she talks to me about all the things that have gone right and some that haven’t during this fun conversation.
The post Living Tiny for Four Years: What Works and What Doesn’t? with Alexis Monkhouse – #226 appeared first on The Tiny House.
How do you renovate a vintage Airstream in two months when you have no building experience? Allison and James not only made their vintage Airstream livable in two months while working full-time, but they also taught themselves how to do carpentry and electrical work - and found a parking spot! In this interview, we talk about how and why they worked on such a short timeline, how they approached learning, and what design choices they made in order to make the Airstream fully functional for their lifestyle.
The post Vintage Airstream to Beautiful Tiny Home in 2 Months! with Allison and James – #225 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I’ve been seeing a lot of buzz about this company Wilderwise, so I decided to invite one of the founders, Arya Mazanek for an interview. Wilderwise is taking a custom approach to just about every aspect of their tiny home builds- from the custom aluminum trailer that doubles as the floor foundation, to the aluminum and SIP frame, what really sets these tiny homes apart is the fact that they expand to have a full height second floor once they are parked in place. In this interview, I’ll ask Arya how the homes are built, how the second-floor expansion works, and what makes them modular. Stick around!
The post The Innovative Tiny House on Wheels with a Full Second Story and a Great Backstory with Arya Mazanek – #224 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Yes, a tiny home can qualify for a traditional mortgage! Aubrie Gibbons works for Atlas Cottage Homes, a company that has developed a modular small home, or cottage as they call it, that can be traditionally mortgaged. They can even help you roll the cost of the land into that loan, along with the cottage. We also dispel some of the common myths about modular building, along with what modular building can and can’t do.
The post How to Build a Mortgage Eligible Tiny House with Aubrie Gibbons #223 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Are you interested in listing a tiny house on Airbnb? I’ve been doing just that and I wanted to share my experiences with you. In this episode, I’ll cover what it’s been like turning my tiny house into an Airbnb, things I would have designed differently if I knew I was going to turn my house into a rental, and what it’s like to be an Airbnb host. Thank you to everyone who submitted their listener questions for the episode. For those of you who asked (and a lot of you asked), I do talk about what we do with the poo.
The post I Turned my Tiny House into an Airbnb. My Experiences + Listener Q&A – #222 appeared first on The Tiny House.
David Friedlander has been an advocate for the widespread adoption of minimal and tiny/low-impact living for over a decade. He’s been featured in the New York times, Minimalism documentary, and more. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore micro-living, hotel living, and what needs to change in our culture to more fully support a sustainable future living on the planet.
The post The Case for Tiny, Low Impact Living with David Friedlander – #221 appeared first on The Tiny House.
If you’re looking for inexpensive raw land you won’t want to miss this episode. Dave Denniston is a sort of raw land broker. he finds inexpensive land, makes sure it all checks out, finds out what can be done with it, and offers in-house financing. He explains the basics of raw land, gives us the scoop on some of his favorite tiny-home-friendly counties in US states, and lets us know which episodes of his own podcast will be most beneficial as you’re searching for that perfect plot.
The post How and Where to Find Affordable Land for your Tiny Home with Dave Denniston – #220 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Can a relationship survive a DIY tiny house build? Cassie and Richard Saude of Lionheart Homes built their own tiny home and took their passion for the tiny house community to start their own tiny home building business. They now build houses for others, using their knowledge and insights as tiny home dwellers to provide additional insight to their clients in the design and construction process.
The post This Couple Built a Tiny House and Became Pro Tiny House Builders Together with Cassie and Richard – #219 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Today I am joined by a group of three friends to solve the problem we’re all facing today: the housing crisis! They decided to start a company called Tiny Easy that provides affordable tiny house plans with beautiful designs, SketchUp courses, and a lot more in the works. This is an impressive group of young entrepreneurs who I think will go a long way in the tiny house world.
The post These Young Entrepreneurs Are Making Tiny Easier and More Affordable with Tiny Easy – #218 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Would you believe me if I told you that it was entirely possible to record an album on a sailboat? Alli and Gaylen are the Sail Bums, a musical duo from Maine who live on their 37-foot Endeavour sailboat. In addition to explaining how they manage their music business while traveling the eastern seaboard, they also give some great advice to nomads on both land and sea and talk about why the nomadic lifestyle is so appealing to them.
The post The Ups and Downs of Living as Full-Time Nomads with Alli and Gaylen – #217 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Sabrina Bosserman is a professional skoolie builder, and she's here to tell us all about the ins and outs of converting a skoolie into a beautiful rolling tiny home. Sabrina is also a former Naval nuclear engineer who now builds skoolies full-time, and we chat about how her experience in the Navy helped to inform her desire and some skills for living tiny.
The post How Living on a Navy Warship Taught Me to Live Tiny with Sabrina Bosserman – #216 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Say you build a tiny house on wheels but you want a legal place to park it. You fall in love with a piece of land and decide to buy it and create a legal tiny house community. Would you believe me if I told you that would take nearly two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars? My guests today, Callie Brauel and Nathan Huening did just that. They certainly didn't expect it to take so long or be so challenging, but they’re here to tell the tale and share what they’ve learned along the way.
The post How to Turn a Farm into a Tiny House Community with Nathan and Callie – #215 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Today, you’ll get the inside scoop on what it’s like to live in AND to be a founding member of an intentional community. My guest, Mike Moore, has lived in his community for over 25 years in a ground-bound tiny house designed by Jay Shafer.
The post The Inside Scoop on Intentional Communities with Mike Moore – #214 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Living tiny is a great way to save money and pay off debt, and my guest today did that in a radical way. $60,000 in student loan debt in just 11 months. You’ll have to listen to the episode to find out exactly how he did it and why he doesn’t recommend doing it the way that he did.
The post Radical Debt Elimination? Here’s How to Do It with Nickolas Natali – #213 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Even if you've never heard of an Airstream you probably know what they look like. These iconic travel trailers from the 1950s have become a hot commodity for renovation into beautiful, lightweight, tiny homes. Kate Oliver is the author of the new book The Modern Caravan, which tells the stories of beautiful Airstream conversions and the people who live in them through words and gorgeous photographs. Kate’s journey started with a DIY Airstream renovation that led to starting a company and she shares some great advice on finding and renovating vintage Airstream trailers.
The post How and Why an Airstream Makes a Great Tiny Home with Kate Oliver – #212 appeared first on The Tiny House.
What happens when two siblings decide to buy tiny houses and live next door to one another? Ashley Monkhouse is here to tell us all about her tiny lifestyle. Even though the two sisters bought their tiny houses from the same builder, they are quite different. In this interview, we'll hear Ashley's tiny story, learn about the tiny house community where they live, and find out what advice Ashley would give herself if she could go back in time before she bought a tiny house.
The post This Modern Millennial is Living the Tiny Dream with Ashley Monkhouse – #211 appeared first on The Tiny House.
If you’re trying to build a tiny house on a budget, starting with a pre-existing shed can be one of the cheapest ways to do it. Adrian and Katherine Alvarez purchased a $20K 16x50 Dirksen shed for $10K and spent very little to turn it into a home for their family of 3. Shed conversions are their own special animal and the Alvarezes share some great tips and what they wish they knew before they started.
The post How to Convert a Shed to a Tiny House (On the Cheap!) with Adrian and Katherine – #210 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Would you buy a 30-year-old military vehicle that breaks down all the time but can go anywhere? My guests today, Rae and Trevor of Wazimu Life, did just that and they’re here to tell us all about their fascinating lifestyle, now in their second, less breakdown-prone, go-anywhere tiny house rig.
The post Building and Living in a “Go Anywhere” Off-Road Tiny House with Rae and Trevor – #209 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Today is one of those rare occasions where I get to introduce you to a new building technology. My guest, Harrison Langley, is the founder of the company Boxvana, a composite SIP manufacturer and modular builder. Their LitePan material is up to 4 times lighter than a conventional wood SIP. That weight, along with the thermal properties, makes this incredible new technology an amazing application for tiny homes on wheels.
The post Composite Structural Insulated Panels are a Light Weight Game Changer with Harrison Langley – #208 appeared first on The Tiny House.
If you’ve ever had trouble setting and reaching goals, this conversation is for you. Sasha Morozov and I discuss why work-life balance is a bunch of BS, how you can make your home fit your lifestyle, and how to create and keep healthy habits to help you move toward what you want. Sasha has a ton of energy and passion that I’m sure will motivate and inspire you.
The post Tiny Lifestyle and The Problem with “Work/Life Balance” with Sasha Morozov – #207 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Is there anything cooler than taking a shower in your own waterfall? This week, Chris Strathy comes back to the show to tell us about his treasure trove of fun, off-grid projects. We talk about his redneck hot tub design, building an underground hobbit house, rehabbing an old log cabin, and so much more. Stick around to be inspired and hear all of the good wisdom that The Capable Carpenter has to offer.
The post Building an Affordable Off-Grid Hot Tub with Chris Strathy – #206 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Have you ever seen a shed or a building that is not a house, looked at it, and thought that you could probably turn it into a tiny home? Well, that’s what my guest, Deanna Michaelson, did! Deanna was able to eliminate $30k of debt in two years by renovating and living in a 9x12 tool shed. Stick around to hear what it took to turn the shed into a beautiful tiny house, why she got kicked out, and what she’s doing next. We also talk about her coaching business, Stoked Coaching, and what kind of clients she’s hoping to work with. And of course, we talk about Deanna’s next tiny house which will be on wheels and is tentatively called Shed 2.0.
The post How to Eliminate $30,000 of Debt in Two Years with Deanna Michaelson – #205 appeared first on The Tiny House.
What does a Realtor think of tiny houses? And what’s a tiny house concierge? Today I speak with Alaska Wagoner, who shares her experience buying a pre-owned tiny house, dealing with winter plumbing issues galore, finding parking, and more.
The post A Realtor’s Take on Tiny Houses with Alaska Wagoner – #204 appeared first on The Tiny House.
You’ve probably never heard of hyper adobe. And what’s a bunker bus? Why would someone want to move off-grid to the Arizona Desert? On this week’s show, Richard Ward gives us an inside view of his 24-acre homestead outside of Bisbee Arizona, where he teaches sustainable, natural building practices and off-grid living. And make sure you listen to the end because Richard has an invitation for our listeners to actually come and EXPERIENCE and help build with natural materials through an Eco-Residency program.
The post You’ve Probably Never Heard of Hyper Adobe with Richard Ward – #203 appeared first on The Tiny House.
You’ll never guess what this empty nest tiny house couple built into their tiny house porch roof! Colin and Megan Leeson tell the story of their pre-built shell, why the nest doesn’t always stay empty, and about some of the clever and innovative features they build into their gorgeous tiny home on wheels.
The post Is Buying a Tiny House Shell a Good Idea? with Colin & Megan Leeson – #202 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Have you been approaching minimalism the wrong way? Think of this: You’re never going to truly become a minimalist until you find out why you are so drawn to owning so much stuff in the first place. Christine Platt approaches the concept of minimalism from a different lens by focusing on why we are attached to things, why we consume them in the first place, and how that understanding helps to find the path to minimalism. This lovely conversation contains both practical tips for people who are downsizing and also a more philosophical discussion about the “why” behind minimalism.
The post How to Go Beyond the Aesthetics of Minimalism and Find Your Why with Christine Platt – #201 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I’m excited to share this conversion with Nomad Brad because I think that we all have a lot to learn from vanlifers in the tiny house space. Brad converted an old U-Haul, which is something that not a lot of vanlifers are doing, and we’ll get into why it makes a lot of sense and some of the unique things that Brad has done. There is a lot to learn in this inspiring conversation, no matter what type of tiny house dwelling you’re interested in.
The post Nomad Brad’s Stealth U-Haul Tiny Home is Surprising and Innovative – #200 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Justin Draplin is a visionary entrepreneur who is going vertical with tiny house development by building tiny homes, developing tiny home communities, and also developing and manufacturing technology for the homes in-house. In this wide-ranging interview, Justin tells me why “tiny house” is a bit of a swear word in his company, his mentality about finding land for development, and some of the features of these impressive cottages.
The post Developing Innovative Small Homes AND Places to Put Them with Justin Draplin – #199 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Michael Bartz talks to me about all things tiny houses, environmentalism, and climate change. When Michael hand-built his own tiny house on wheels, it set him on the path to thinking more about how what we do and how we live impacts climate change and inspired him to start his podcast, Over My Head, to discuss that with others. In this interview, we talk about his show, his tiny house and its special features, and more.
The post Tiny Houses vs. Climate Change with Michael Bartz – #198 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Joe Callantine has both the desire and the vision to live tiny in community. He has already built and lived in his own tiny house, he owns the land for the tiny community, and now he is working through the legal and regulatory steps to make his dream a reality. Joe is incredibly patient, kind, and does a great job of describing how this process works. As more and more people build tiny houses, the demand for legal tiny house parking is rising so that people who do want to live legally don’t have to question whether they’re allowed to live in their tiny homes.
The post One Man’s Journey to Create a Tiny House Community with Joe Callantine – #197 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I was excited to finally sit down with Melanie Copeland because it seems like her name is everywhere! Between a book that is charting on the Amazon bestseller list and involvement with Tiny House Alliance USA, Melanie is a mover and a shaker in the tiny house world. She also has an amazing personal story of renovating a tiny house in just 7 days.
The post How to Build a Tiny House in 7 Days with Melanie Copeland – #196 appeared first on The Tiny House.
This is a conversation about a family coming together after a tragic accident and the DIY. Alex became a diesel mechanic in order to learn how to work on the bus that she converted and then ultimately went on to convert a skoolie that had special features for her brother who was the victim of an accident that left him a quadriplegic. It’s an incredibly uplifting story and a fascinating look at how tiny houses can solve so many unique problems.
The post Building an Accessible School Bus with Alex Scribner – #195 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Rex Holbein started a Facebook page that has become a thriving nonprofit called Facing Homelessness. Among other things, Facing Homelessness reaches out to local homeowners and places ADUs in their back yards to help house homeless people in their communities. There’s more to it than that and I hope you stick around for my conversation with Rex as we talk about the causes of homelessness, the way that society looks past homeless people, and what we can all do about it.
The post The BLOCK Project Combines Architecture, Community, and Tiny Houses to Address Homelessness with Rex Hohlbein – #194 appeared first on The Tiny House.
The road to tiny house living can sometimes be bumpy, but my guests today, Justin and Juby, show us that a life of adventure is possible when living tiny - even with a child. Justin and Juby have been sharing their skoolie adventure on Instagram and YouTube for a while now. I'd heard about them from both members of Tiny House Engage and previous guests on the show, so I knew I had to have them on for an interview. In this episode, we talk about what it's like to live on a bus, what it takes to set up then pack up to travel, and mistakes they've made along the way, and how they manage their businesses from the road.
The post Baby on Board: Living, Parenting, and Eating on the Road with Justin and Juby – #193 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Erica Smith Ewing is a senior attorney with the Institute for Justice and she is leading a lawsuit against a town in Georgia that is preventing somebody from building tiny houses solely based on a minimum square footage requirement. According to Ewing and the Institute for Justice, this is a violation of the Georgia constitution. I've been fascinated by stories of people and groups striking down restrictive tiny house laws based on the constitutionality of land use and size restrictions. in this conversation, Erica will shed light on her thinking behind the case, why she thinks that they are going to prevail, and makes a call to our listeners for anybody that may be experiencing restrictions on building a tiny house to potentially get in touch to see if there might be a legal case or a legal basis for going into court.
The post Are Minimum Square Footage Rules Unconstitutional? with Erica Smith Ewing – #192 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Guillaume Gabriele has been working for the builder, Ma Petite Maison, who is building some of the most beautiful tiny houses in all of Europe. I've been following them for a while and I'm excited to finally get to sit down with Guillaume to talk about the designs that Ma Petite Maison uses and how they're different in Europe than tiny house designs are in the United States, the state of the tiny house movement in Europe, and his own personal tiny house story.
The post Ma Petite Maison and the European Tiny House Scene with Guillaume Gabriele – #191 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Solar heaters can make a lot of sense if you live in a cold climate with sun because they essentially provide free heat during the day. The designs haven't always been great, though. Erik Latoki, DIY tinkerer and lifelong fabricator, has incorporated his industrial oven design experience into a DIY solar heater build that can be built with common materials found at local big box stores. His plans, which are completely free, don't require any welding or special knowledge and if you're already building your tiny home, you most likely have the necessary tools and experience already. In this conversation, Erik explains everything from what a solar heater is to how it's installed, what it can be used for, and other important details. If you're looking for alternative ways to heat your tiny house, this episode will definitely open your eyes to some new possibilities.
The post Heat Your Tiny House for Free: How to Build a DIY Solar Heater with Eric Latocki – #190 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Corianne Holmes is here to tell us her amazing story about moving to New Zealand with her boyfriend, using their life savings to build a tiny house, almost losing the tiny house due to a legal hiccup with their trailer, and ultimately building a slightly larger home and converting their tiny into an Airbnb. Stick around to hear me mispronounce the name of Corianne's town.... and for a delightful conversation and story about living tiny in New Zealand.
The post Living Tiny in New Zealand with Corianne Holmes – #189 appeared first on The Tiny House.
The tiny house movement in the United States seems to get all of the attention, but there are people, groups, and advocates all around the world working to make tiny living possible. Enter Miranda and Jan from Tiny Living Alliance. The Tiny Living Alliance is working to make your relationship with builders more transparent and trustworthy through several tools and initiatives through their website. In this interview, we'll learn about what Tiny Living Alliance does, how they do it, and why Miranda and Jan started it in the first place.
The post Is Your Tiny Builder Trustworthy? Tiny Living Alliance can Help! – #188 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Mental health is not something that we talk about frequently in the tiny house industry or in the tiny house movement, so today's guests are a welcome addition of mental health to the tiny house conversation. Sophie and Ryan set to work saving and learning all they could about boats and sailing. They decided to delay their adventure to address their anxiety and depression through therapy. After they set sail, they realized that life on a boat isn't all smooth sailing - so they both still suffer from anxiety and have been seeing therapists remotely throughout their journey. In this conversation, Sophie and Ryan talk about the mental health impacts of both preparing for and living tiny.
The post Can Living Tiny Affect Your Mental Health? with Ryan and Sophie appeared first on The Tiny House.
I'm welcoming returning guest, Jewel Pearson back to the podcast today. Jewel did a beautiful and creative addition to her tiny house, a sunroom called "The Tiny House Remix" and the moment I saw it I knew I needed to have her on the show to talk about it! The Remix is a very well-done way of slightly expanding a tiny house to make it fit your needs and I think you'll find what Jewel has done inspiring.
The post The Perfect Tiny House Addition? Jewel Pearson’s Tiny House Remix – #186 appeared first on The Tiny House.
My guest today is like a secret rock star of the tiny house world. I'm sure that she has inspired many of the well-known tiny house designers and thinkers that you know of today. Sarah Susanka published her world-changing book, The Not So Big House, in 1998 and I can't stress enough how inspiring this book was to me when I was designing my tiny house. I think that this conversation will give you a taste of the wisdom and insights that you will gain from Sarah through her book that has now become an entire franchise.
The post Sage Design Advice from Legendary ‘Not So Big’ Architect, Sarah Susanka – #185 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Parenting and running a business while living tiny and traveling full-time is no easy task, but today's guest, Erin Carey, is doing it all. Erin lives on a boat with her family and also runs her own PR agency, a business she started after making this transition to living tiny. In this interview, we're going to hear her and her family's story, learn about the headspace and some of the things Erin did to stay motivated for making this big transition. Erin also tells us how she is able to stay productive and work from a tiny space when her family is all around, there are a lot of distractions, and she has limited alone time.
The post Living and Working Tiny from a Boat with Erin Carey – #184 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Not long ago, the Maine legislature passed LD 1981, a bill that defined tiny homes. It says "Tiny Home means a living space permanently constructed on a frame or chassis and designed for use as permanent living quarters." It then goes on to specify some other things about what a tiny home is. The Maine legislature then passed LD 1530, which is an act to allow people to live in Tiny Homes as a primary or accessory dwelling. This makes Maine the first state in the United States to legalize tiny house living statewide, and my guest, Corrine Watson was instrumental in making this happen. So in this conversation, Corrine will break down what these laws do and don't do, what the process of advocacy was like, and how you can look to Maine as a model to bring to your state or town to help the cause and legalize tiny houses.
The post How One Advocate Helped Maine Legalize Tiny Homes with Corinne Watson – #183 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Figuring out what you need for a tiny house can be really confusing. Returning guest, Isabell Nagel-Brice has been working with 475 Building Supply, a company that sells high-performance building materials. In this episode, Isabelle breaks down which materials will help your house breathe properly, ventilate well, prevent mold, and just be a healthy tiny house to live in. She shares the names of these various products and explains what exactly they do to make your tiny house a healthy tiny house.
The post High Performance Building Materials with Isabelle Nagel-Brice – #182 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Janet and I have been talking for a while and we've decided that it's finally time to pull back the curtain on the efforts that she has been working on for the last several months and do an interview on the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast. Janet is the Founder, President, and Treasurer of Tiny House Alliance USA and is currently leading an exploratory initiative to develop new global building standards with ASTM. Before your eyes glaze over, I encourage you to stick with this show because Janet does a great job of explaining what ASTM International is, what standards are, how they would impact the tiny house building industry, dwellers, DIYers, not just in the United States or North America, but in the entire world. It's a really exciting effort. I think there's a lot of potential here and we need more people to get involved.
The post Developing Global Building Standards for Tiny Homes: Tiny House Alliance USA on the ASTM Opportunity with Janet Thome – #181 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Kol Peterson has been on the forefront of ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) development and advocacy for at least the last 10 years in Portland, Oregon. But don't worry! This conversation applies to ADUs at least everywhere in the United States, if not beyond. Kol is a really great thinker, is whip-smart, quite funny, and passionate about ADUs. In this conversation, we dive into why Kol sees ADUs as such an incredible opportunity for solving the housing crisis. We also talk about what's happening in Portland as it relates to tiny houses, probably making Portland the most tiny house-friendly city in the country.
The post The ADU Revolution and What it Means for Tiny Homes with Kol Peterson – #180 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I love finding out about new ways that tiny homes are being used to help people that are in need and the Veterans Community Project is an incredibly impressive organization that has accomplished a ton in just a few short years, including 49 tiny homes for veterans on a piece of property that they now own! Vincent Morales has been there from the start and together we go through the organization's history, what they do, how they settled on tiny houses, and how everything works with the Veterans Community Project. This is a really inspiring conversation and I'm so grateful that there are people like Vincent out there doing the work that they're doing.
The post Tiny Houses for Veterans with Veterans Community Project’s Vincent Morales – #179 appeared first on The Tiny House.
The post How to Convert a Shed to a Tiny Home with Katy Zientek – #178 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Alexis and Christian are returning to the show and so much has happened since Episode 12, their first appearance on the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast. For one thing, they have actually been staying put in their tiny house for the last two years and they are about to publish a new book, The Beginner's Guide to Tiny Houses. In this interview, we will catch up, learn about the new book and other projects that they're working on, and also talk about some of the exciting things that have been happening in 2021 for the tiny house movement. This is a wide-ranging interview and Alexis and Christian are like friendly, personable encyclopedias who know just about everything about the tiny house movement and what's happening.
The post The Beginner’s Guide to Tiny Houses with Alexis Stephens and Christian Parsons – #177 appeared first on The Tiny House.
This week I am bringing you another show that I was a guest on. This time with the House Maven Katharine MacPhail on her show, Talking Home Renovations. Talking Home Renovations with the House Maven is an educational and entertaining podcast that will ease your fears if you are planning a home renovation and are worried that you don't know what you're doing. Katharine had me on the show to talk about renovating tiny homes. It was a great conversation and I think you'll enjoy this week's show.
The post Tiny Home Renovations – #176 appeared first on The Tiny House.
As I record this today, I just got back from a week-long bicycle tour with my cousin on the coast of Maine and in a couple of days, I'm heading down to the New Jersey shore to spend a week with aunts, uncles, and cousins. Instead of bringing you a show where I interview someone, I thought it would be interesting to share a show that I was a guest on where somebody interviews me. Enter Liz Sumner and the I Always Wanted To Podcast. The I Always Wanted To Podcast is a podcast for people who long to break out of their comfort zone and try something bold but need some encouragement. Liz interviews people who are doing things (or teaching things) that others long to do. I was a guest on the show back in June and I really enjoyed being interviewed by Liz Sumner. I think you'll enjoy it, too!
The post I Always Wanted to Build a Tiny House – #175 appeared first on The Tiny House.
The first time I met Sean he was sketching tiny houses in a sketchbook at a speaker dinner after a tiny house conference. I'm so glad to have him on the podcast all these years later. Sean is an active member of Tiny House Engage, my online community, where he does monthly design reviews of various members' tiny house designs and he is a professional architect. In this interview, we talk about Sean's design philosophies and the tiny home he designed and is almost finished building. We also cover how to build affordably in 2021 and beyond, as well as some of the ways that tiny houses can go wrong.
The post Designing Beyond Right Now with Sean Burke – #174 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Have you ever struggled to figure out what you want to be when you grow up? Or maybe you're already grown up and you still balance multiple interests and don't feel like you can just fit into one box. Today's guest, Emilie Wapnick, has created a whole set of resources just for people like that - people like you and like me - and I actually have a hunch that there are a lot of us among tiny house dwellers. The word that Emilie uses is "multipotentialite" and in this conversation we're going to talk about what a multipotentialite is and what our kind of unique needs are when it comes to finding work and feeling fulfilled in our pursuits, whether it's work, creativity or more. It's a really interesting conversation and I think you'll learn some things about yourself and about how you can apply some tips and techniques to planning and building a tiny house.
The post Are all Tiny House Dwellers Multipotentialites? with Emilie Wapnick – #173 appeared first on The Tiny House.
In this special episode of THLP, your host Ethan Waldman joins forces with veteran tiny house designer, builder, and instructor, Lina Menard, to chat about "what we wish we knew before we started".
Plus, we bring you a sneak peek of our upcoming LIVE course, Tiny House Considerations, an interactive, 8-week course with Lina and Ethan as your guides.
To get on the waitlist for Tiny House Considerations, head over to:
https://www.thetinyhouse.net/considerations
The post Two Tiny House Instructors on “What We Wish We Knew Before We Started” with Lina Menard – #172 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Michael Janzen is a legend in the tiny house world, having started his website, TinyHouseDesign.com in 2007 and just continuing to work as a prolific designer pretty much since then. Michael has put a lot of plans out into the world and I have no doubt that there are many, many tiny houses that are built either directly from his designs or were inspired by them. On today's show, Michael stopped by to talk about the second edition of his book, Tiny House Floor Plans. It now contains over 350 tiny house floor plans and it's just a really cool book to look through. The houses are arranged from small to large and if you are in the design or planning process it's a really cool resource to just get some ideas about how you can lay out a tiny house. Our conversation is wide-ranging from things in the tiny house design world that Michael thinks are maybe not serving tiny houses, things that Michael is looking forward to, and more.
The post 350 Tiny House Floor Plans and Counting with Legendary Designer, Michael Janzen – #171 appeared first on The Tiny House.
If you've been listening to the show for a while, you may recognize the name Natalie Bogwalker because she's been a guest in the past! Natalie is a wealth of knowledge about natural building techniques. In today's show, we are going to do a deep dive into two natural building techniques: slip straw and hempcrete. I went in knowing nothing about these and I asked really basic questions and Natalie really did a wonderful job explaining everything. Natalie also tells us all about how her online building school, Wild Abundance, had to shift to online learning during the pandemic and how she's now created what sounds like a pretty amazing online tiny house building course.
The post Deep Dive into Natural Building with Natalie Bogwalker – #170 appeared first on The Tiny House.
My Guest today is Betsy Barbour. Betsy’s tiny dreams began in 2017. After downsizing and selling her condominium, she moved into her 200 sqft tiny home in 2019. She has since lived in 3 unique communities in 2 states. Betsy has become passionate about tiny house advocacy and community development. On today’s show, we’ll talk about the different kinds of communities that Betsy has found, the wins and challenges that tiny living has presented for Betsy, and more.
The post Finding and Creating Tiny Home Community with Betsy Barbour – #169 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Can developing the tiny house mindset help you start tiny living sooner? What is the tiny house mindset anyway? My guest Angela Barnard is not only a tiny dweller but a life and career coach who specializes in helping people change the direction of their lives. In this interview, Angela gives us the Be - Act - Have framework and explains how to use it to become a tiny dweller… even if you‘re not living tiny yet! I was really inspired by this conversation and I think you will be too!
The post What is the Tiny House Mindset? How to Pursue the Tiny House Lifestyle with Intention with Angela Barnard – #168 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I wouldn't hesitate to say that my guest this week is one of my all-time favorite professional tiny house builders. JP Marquis from Minimaliste Houses has been building gorgeous, modern, premium tiny houses since 2015, early on in the movement and his company really has staying power because of their pursuit of building excellence. And I'm not reading any pitch, this is all coming from me. They have continued to innovate to make their tiny houses both safer and better to live in. In this conversation, we go kind of deep on building for cold weather, why JP thinks that SIPs are the only choice for building a safe and warm tiny house on wheels, heating systems, and more.
The post This Tiny House Builder is Booked Into Next Year. Here’s Why with Minimaliste’s JP Marquis – #167 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I was really excited to invite Leslie on the show because she has just published a book called "Tiny Plants: Discover the Joys of Growing and Collecting Itty Bitty Houseplants" and I just knew I had to have her on to talk about plants that you can bring with you into your tiny house lifestyle. I had no idea that this was even a thing so I'm really excited to share this conversation! Leslie is a super outgoing and knowledgeable guest and she actually brought plants for show and tell. Members of Tiny House Engage were able to actually watch out interview streamed live, but she did send me some photographs of the plants we talked about.
The post Tiny Plants for Tiny Houses! with Leslie Halleck – #166 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I've known Sarah for close to 10 years but we only met in person last summer. Sarah is a bicycle touring professional and also a tiny house enthusiast who got in touch with me nearly 10 years ago when she was looking for people interested in both bicycle touring and tiny houses. It turns out that they are a lot in common! In this episode, Sarah will share her story of how she fell in love with bicycle touring and how it goes so well with tiny house living. I also share my story of how bicycle touring led to tiny house living for me.
The post What’s Bicycle Touring Got to do with Living Tiny? with Sarah Burch – #165 appeared first on The Tiny House.
My fascination with houseboats really started when I saw a video tour of Bonnie's houseboat, the River Den, on the Exploring Alternatives YouTube channel. I've been trying to get her on the show ever since. It turns out I had no idea that Bonnie was a talented entrepreneur who has multiple houseboats and unique Airbnb stays. In this interview, we go through the ins and outs of what it takes to actually build a floating house on the water and also some insight about how Bonnie thinks about designing these homes and her philosophy on building.
The post Tiny Houses on the Water with Bonnie Vanasse – #164 appeared first on The Tiny House.
In their own process for going tiny in 2014, Joshua and Shelley Engberg decided to design a custom trailer for their dream tiny home. Frustrated by how difficult the process was, they went into business as Tiny House Basics and now build over 450 custom tiny house trailers per year. In this interview, we’ll hear Joshua and Shelley’s tiny story, their tips for finding an ideal Parking spot, and we’ll nerd out about trailer features, from tube steel to threaded rods.
The post From Tiny House Dreamers to Trailer Manufacturers with Joshua and Shelley Engberg of Tiny House Basics – #163 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Certification of tiny homes has been a tricky topic for years now. I’ve been skeptical of many of the certifiers because I haven’t always seen the benefit. Last week’s conversation with Jenifer Levini only increased that skepticism. But this week, I’m happy to bring you my conversation with Alex Ontiveros from Pacific West tiny homes. Pacific West has been in the certification business for a long time, and in this conversation, we’ll see if Alex can convince me whether tiny house certification is worth it.
The post Is Tiny House Certification Worth It? with Alex Ontiveros – #162 appeared first on The Tiny House.
The legal landscape of tiny homes is one of the most frustrating and confusing parts of the tiny house movement. In fact, “tiny home” isn’t even a legal term, so municipalities have had to figure out what form of existing law they fit into. My guest Jenifer Levini is a housing and land use lawyer, and author of Building, Occupying & Selling Tiny Homes Legally. I would consider this episode a must-listen: Jenifer walks us through the 6 types of tiny homes (from a legal perspective), why codes are critical for safety, RV vs. residential code, and her take on avoiding bad players.
The post Untangling the Tiny House Legal Landscape with Jenifer Levini – #161 appeared first on The Tiny House.
SquareOne Villages is an amazing organization creating self-managed communities of cost-effective tiny homes for people in need of housing in and around Eugene Oregon. My guest Amanda Dellinger is the Community Relations Director, and if you’re curious about tiny home villages, this conversation is a must-listen. We start by exploring the co-op model for housing and delve into all the details of how these tiny home villages are funded, built, and maintained.
The post SquareOne Villages is Creating Truly Affordable Tiny Home Co-Ops with Amanda Dellinger – #160 appeared first on The Tiny House.
The concept of Lifestyle Design certainly predates the tiny house movement, but I see the two as very linked. Enter today’s guest, Jessica Malone, a lifestyle design coach who lives tiny herself. In the interview, we’ll talk about the difference between Decluttering versus Downsizing, life hacks for easy minimalism, and the mindset required to succeed.
The post Lifestyle Design and Decluttering for the Tiny Life with Jessica Malone – #159 appeared first on The Tiny House.
One of the best ways to spend time as a family is traveling full-time. Traveling together can be fun, interesting, and educational for your children too. But it can also be difficult. My guests today are Jessica and Will Sueiro, and they are two parents who have done it successfully. They left the American rat race in 2014 and haven’t looked back. In this interview, we’ll get into the nitty-gritty details of full-time travel as a family- from health insurance and medical care to homeschooling and finding friends.
The post Practical Tips for Long-Term International (Tiny) Travel with Kids with Jessica and Will Sueiro – #158 appeared first on The Tiny House.
In some ways, the Yurt is the original tiny house on wheels. If you’ve never seen one, a Yurt is a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt and used as a dwelling by nomadic groups in Central Asia. In America, Yurts have been popular since the ’70s, and I’ve wanted to interview a yurt dweller here on the show for some time. Enter my guest, Kevin Obrien, who lives year-round, off-grid in his yurt in New Hampshire. Kevin will explain why he chose a yurt over other forms of housing and what the benefits and drawbacks are for full-time living.
The post Living in a Yurt Full Time (Through Winter) with Kevin O’Brien – #157 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Is it possible to convert a cargo trailer into a tiny home? On today’s show, I take with Nicoll Davis, who currently lives and travels full time in a 112 square foot converted cargo trailer with her husband Jake and their dogs. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the photos and total cost of the conversion. Oh, and a few days after scheduling my interview with Nicoll, I saw her featured prominently in a New York Times article about tiny home living during the pandemic. She wasn’t happy with how she was portrayed, so we start there. Stay tuned!
The post Cargo Trailer to Tiny Home with Nicoll Davis – #156 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Figuring out how to get your tiny house a supply of water is one of the biggest challenges you’ll face living off-grid. Wouldn’t it be great if we could simply capture and use the water that falls out of the sky? I had always thought that rainwater harvesting in a tiny house would be inconvenient and ineffective due to the small roof size. Enter today's guest, Brad Lancaster. Brad is a tiny house dweller and author of several award-winning books about rainwater harvesting, and he has completely changed my mind. Not only is rainwater harvesting doable in a tiny house, but I’m actually planning on implementing some rainwater capture in my own setup. Don’t miss this conversation with Brad Lancaster so you can learn how to get started with Rainwater Harvesting!
The post Rainwater Harvesting for Tiny Houses (And Beyond!) with Brad Lancaster – #155 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Michelle Jones discovered the tiny house movement well before most of us, struck up a friendship with Dee Williams, and had her 84sf tiny house built by Dee’s company PAD. She’s been quietly living tiny in Portland, OR backyards for 11 years now, and in a lot of ways, tiny living has helped to guide and inspire her unconventional career choices. In this interview, Michelle shares her reflections on living tiny for 11 years and some of the unexpected things she has learned along the way.
The post Living Tiny in 84 Square Feet: 11 Years Later! with Michelle Jones – #154 appeared first on The Tiny House.
The home you build or buy may be the single biggest purchase you'll ever make. That's why choosing the right builder is such a consequential decision. But since we'll only ever need to do this once or twice in our lives it's very easy to be taken advantage of or miss red flags before we plunk our life savings on a tiny home. My guests this week, Paul Dashevsky and Jon Grishpul, started the company GreatBuildz to connect homeowners with reliable, pre-vetted contractors. In this interview, I'll ask them the tough questions about what to look for in a contractor and they share so many gems. Don't miss it! Also, Paul and Jon created a downloadable checklist "How To Choose A Contractor" and they're making it available to listeners of the show.
The post How to Pick a Great Contractor with Paul Dashevsky and Jon Grishpul – #153 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Chad Deschenes is a building inspector who is usually called in when issues like air quality, mold, and moisture have gotten out of control. Chad is here to blow the whistle on some of the standard tiny house building methods, and share some common problems he sees in buildings, large and small. Plus, Chad will share the one system that EVERY tiny house must have. Chad has kindly shared lots of photos to go along with this interview.
The post Why Do Tiny Houses Develop Terrible Mold and Moisture Issues? with Chad Deschenes – #152 appeared first on The Tiny House.
It’s every homeowner’s nightmare to discover a small patch of mold, and then learn that their floor, subfloor, and insulation have all become a soft, rotten waste. But that’s exactly what happened to my guest today, Chris Murphy. Chris and his wife Bri had to move out of their tiny house unexpectedly when it was discovered that there was a terrible moisture issue in both the floor and walls. In this interview, Chris tells his story so we can all learn from the critical mistakes that were made in Chris and Bri’s tiny home.
The post Learning from a Failed Tiny House: Moisture, Mold, and Rot with Chris Murphy – #151 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Lindsay Wood is an evangelist for tiny living, and these days she’s as busy as ever. As the pandemic has put economic pressure on a large swath of the country, tiny houses are being increasingly seen as a solution to housing affordability and inequality. But there are some big legal hurdles to get over before we get there, and in this interview, Lindsay helps us explore them.
The post Are Tiny Homes a Solution for COVID Evictions? with Lindsay Wood – #150 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Richard Ward is no stranger to tiny living. Back in 2015, he built a gooseneck tiny house. He then downsized — to a Honda Element (yes, the car), which he used to travel the country. Finally, he found his sweet spot: a hand-built 54-square-foot micro-home. After traversing the country and hiking more than 1,100 miles […]
The post Building an Off-Grid Tiny House Homestead: 3 Tips From Someone Who’s Doing It appeared first on The Tiny House.
Contracts, Evictions, Housing Law. These topics might make your eyes glaze over, but they are becoming big issues for the tiny house movement. My guest today is Jody Gabel, a trial attorney with 25 years of experience in mobile home park law, RV tenancies, landlord/tenant and housing law, and local government issues. On the show, we’ll explore the challenges and solutions facing tiny house dwellers, landlords, and communities. I learned a lot and I know you will too!
The post Housing and Contract Law for Tiny Houses with Jody Gabel – #149 appeared first on The Tiny House.
If it has wheels, chances are someone has made a moveable tiny house out of it. On today’s show, the “it” I’m referring to is a 1985 Railroad Camp Car. My guest is Hannah Doss, who converted said railroad car into a gorgeous moveable tiny house in just 3 months and for less than 9000 dollars.
The post Is it Still Possible to Build a Tiny for Under $10k? with Hannah Doss – #148 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I love looking at tiny house plans. Just seeing how other designers solve the space-related challenges of a tiny house is inspiring. That’s why I was super excited when I discovered PinUpHouses, the international design studio run by my guest Joshua Woodsman. PinupHouses sells digital plans for over 150 small and tiny houses, cottages, and sheds, and they’ve been doing for many years. Today, I’ll ask Joshua what got him into tiny houses in the first place and what he’s learned from designing so many of them.
The post Lessons from Designing over 150 Tiny Houses with Pinup Houses Founder Joshua Woodsman – #147 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Rocket Mass Heaters are a very popular DIY in the cob, natural building, and permaculture world, but is only starting to get traction in the tiny house movement. Today, Chris McClellan AKA Uncle Mud is here to explain how Rocket Mass Heaters Work, how to build one of your own, and most importantly, his design for a tiny rocket heater, called the Cottage Rocket.
The post Rocket Mass Heaters For Tiny Houses: What, How and Why? with Uncle Mud – #146 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Daniel Ott is one of the first tiny home builders in Ontario, working to change the housing market by designing and building legal tiny homes (which is no small feat under the Ontario Building Code, one of the strictest codes in North America). Using his unique UpSizeDown Method, Daniel and his team at True North Tiny Homes not only design your tiny dream home, but they also help you get prepared to thrive in it.
The post Innovative Designs for Cold Weather Tiny Living in Canada with Daniel Ott- #145 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Did you know that cob is one of the oldest building materials around? According to my guest, Dave Olsen, most cob houses are tiny houses because they take so long to build! Cob is a mixture of clay, sand, straw, and water that hardens into a thick, load-bearing, structure. Think curved, earthen walls and whimsical building shapes. Dave Olsen has been building with cob for over 20 years and has developed his own technique, called “Fast Cob”. Dave tells us about the benefits of Cob building, how to do fast cob, and more.
The post Introduction to Cob: The Ancient, Natural, Tiny House Building Method with Dave Olsen – #144 appeared first on The Tiny House.
If you’ve been following the tiny house movement for any amount of time, there’s a good chance you’ve come across a story about someone getting ripped off by a tiny house builder. Heck, I’ve interviewed several people on this show whose builders have gone bankrupt or not delivered on what they promised. This week, I’m interviewing Frank Olito, the resident tiny house expert at Business Insider. Frank has also noticed this trend in the industry and has focused his reporting on it. In this episode, you'll learn about what happens when you work with a bad builder, what recourse you can take, and how to avoid bad builders in the first place.
The post How to Avoid Getting Scammed by Your Tiny House Builder with Frank Olito – #143 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Meet Melissa and Jon Block, the sister-brother team behind San Diego’s first ever tiny house village called Tiny House Block. In this interview, Melissa and Jon will share the journey that they took to go from a couple of backyard tiny homes, to a dedicated piece of land with 25 tiny houses. Surprisingly, the majority of their homes are rented long-term, and they’ve had to figure out how to manage a community, including difficult tenants, disputes between neighbors, and more. I hope you stick around!
The post The Ups and Downs of Managing a Tiny House Community with Jon and Melissa Block – #142 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Deek is Back! After kindly agreeing to be a guest on the second ever episode of the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast, Derek Deek Diedricksen is here to talk DIY Treehouse Building. We’re not talking about 50,000 tiny homes in the trees. No, we’re talking about DIY, backyard treehouse building anyone with some tools and some trees, and a dream. Deek has built many, many treehouses, and he’s got tips, tricks, and hacks to share to make the process quicker and cheaper. Deek always has a lot of projects ongoing, so he’ll fill us in on what’s happening in the world of Relax Shacks.
The post DIY Treehouse Building with Derek ‘Deek’ Diedricksen – #141 appeared first on The Tiny House.
If you’ve been listening for a while, you know I love to feature new and innovative ways to build tiny homes. Well, today, I’m featuring something that could be considered a very “old” way- Timber Framing! Clara and Edwin Bobrycki not only designed and built their timber frame tiny house- but they also cut down all the trees and milled the lumber for the entire frame. It’s no easy task, but Edwin and Clara will break it down for us so we can learn what it takes to build a timber framed tiny home.
The post How to Build a Timber Framed Tiny House with Edwin and Clara Bobrycki – #140 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Not long after Ariel McGlothin moved into her tiny house in the western Wyoming mountains, her propane heater quit working. It was winter. Temperatures had dipped to -30 degrees Fahrenheit. And Ariel had the flu. After that, Ariel realized that relying on an electricity-fueled heater probably wasn't the way to go: “I decided that was […]
The post How to Stay Warm and Toasty in an Off-Grid Tiny Home When You Live in a Cold Climate appeared first on The Tiny House.
When it comes to designing tiny homes, Vina Lustado is the real deal. Her iconic Sol Haus and Sol Pod homes are beautiful, light-filled examples of high tiny design, and Vina has lived tiny for many years and in several locations. As a California resident, Vina has seen the destructive and traumatic effects of wildfires and has answered the call in the best way she knows how: By designing a pre-fab tiny home that can be permitted as an ADU in California and has several fire-resistant design elements.
The post Designing a Fire-Resistant Tiny Home ADU with Vina Lustado – #139 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Living off-grid is especially challenging when you're on a 50-ft sailboat in the middle of the ocean. My guest today is Rick Moore, whose sailboat, the Sophisticated Lady, is fully set up to live off-grid for months at a time, with solar and wind power, a water desalination unit, and even a garden on board. Rick walks us through his systems and helps figure out how we can apply them to tiny house living. Stick around!
The post Living Off-Grid for Months at Sea: Hydroponics, Solar, Wind, and Gardening on a Sailboat with Rick Moore – #138 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Darin Dinsmore is the urban planner and landscape architect behind the amazing Tiny Camp Sedona, a small pod of tiny houses available for nightly rentals outside of Sedona, Arizona. Darren is just getting started applying his skills as a developer to tiny house communities. He’ll let us in on the projects he’s working on now, how he approaches developing tiny house communities, and what he’s excited about for the future of tiny homes.
The post Pro Tips to Develop a Tiny House Community with Darin Dinsmore – #137 appeared first on The Tiny House.
If you’re hoping to move around a lot, a moveable tiny home isn’t always the best option. While vans and school bus conversions take the spotlight, my guest Tom Roszko set his sights on a medium-duty ambulance. In this conversation, we’ll learn why used ambulances actually make a fantastic starting point for a conversion, how to find them, and other tips for a DIY, super mobile tiny home. Plus, Tom shares details about his solar, water, and off-grid living in his home.
The post The Ultimate Go-Anywhere Tiny House Ambulance Conversion with Tom Roszko – #136 appeared first on The Tiny House.
There’s something enduring and timeless about the A-frame. It seems to fit into any landscape and instantly says “cozy”. Today, I’m interviewing Michael Romanowicz, founder of Den Outdoors, which designs beautiful, easy to build A-frames and sells plans. In this conversation, we’ll explore the popularity of A-frames, the advantages and disadvantages of the design, and learn about what’s in store at Den.
The post Exploring the Timeless A-Frame Design with Den Outdoors Founder Michael Romanowicz – #135 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Moving a tiny house is no easy task. As the movement grows, so do the tiny homes, making each move more complicated. Today I’m speaking with Taylor Tefft, a professional tiny house mover. She’s here to discuss the ins and outs of moving a tiny home. We cover pricing, insurance, how long it takes, and even moving tiny homes that aren’t on wheels.
The post How to Work with a Professional Tiny House Mover: Pricing, Timing, and Logistics with Taylor Tefft – #134 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Baylie Carlson made a splash in the tiny house movement with her tiny house home birth story. She has lived in both a moveable tiny house, a luxury skoolie, and has lots of insight to share when it comes to raising kids in small dwellings. Baylie is also involved in a really interesting YouTube competition called Outlast Homestead, where the winner gets the title to the land.
The post From Moveable Tiny House to Luxury Skoolie: Tiny Lifestyle with Baylie Carlson – #133 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Permaculture is one of those words I hear batted around a lot in conjunction with the tiny house movement, but have never taken the time to learn what it is. Kenton Zerbin is the perfect guest to help explain it. In this conversation, we’ll learn that Permaculture isn’t some technique or life hack- Rather, it’s an entire way of thinking: A design philosophy that pairs beautifully with tiny homes. Kenton is a teacher by trade, and he’ll also share how he designed his tiny home to survive off-grid in cold, Canadian winters.
The post Permaculture For Tiny Homes with Kenton Zerbin – #132 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Dan Fitzpatrick is the Director of Government Relations and president of the Tiny Home Industry Association and has made a name for himself as the go-to guy for tiny home legalization. This info-packed conversation does not disappoint! We talk about the importance of calling our homes “Moveable Tiny Homes” instead of “Tiny Homes on Wheels”, The current status of Appendix Q, and how to do tiny house advocacy the right way.
The post How to Legalize Tiny Houses: Advocacy 101 with Dan Fitzpatrick – #131 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Lloyd Kahn’s first interview on the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast is the most downloaded episode to date, so I knew I had to have him back on to talk about his wonderful new book, The Half-Acre Homestead. We talk about the benefits and limitations of homesteading in the present and future. While Lloyd is a bit dubious about the viability of living in a tiny house long-term, I think that the lifestyle he showcases in The Half Acre Homestead is readily compatible with tiny house living.
The post Lloyd Kahn’s Half-Acre Homestead: Building, Gardening and Getting Started – #130 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Dylan Magaster started his YouTube channel at the age of 21 with only $1,000 in the bank. He backpacked for 6 months, converted a van, and lived in it for close to 2 years. Then he decided to move to the Mediterranean and buy a sailboat with only 7 days of sailing experience with 2 strangers that he met through the internet. He has now sailed over 6,000 nautical miles and visited 27 countries. In this interview, we’ll talk about van life vs. boat life, and how to do it all on the cheap.
The post From Van Life to Sailboat Living with Only $1000 – #129 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Have you thought about leveraging your tiny house as an income-generating property? Husband and wife duo Lauren Hudson and Chris Krieger did exactly that — the entrepreneurial couple purchased a tiny home with the goal of creating a new income stream. Lauren and Chris — who jointly run vacation rental marketing and management company Wildwood […]
The post How To Turn Your Tiny Home Into an Income-Generating Investment Property appeared first on The Tiny House.
Figuring out the right insulation for your tiny house can be one of the most confusing things about designing and building your own home. And if you’re working with a professional builder, there’s no guarantee they know what they’re doing either. That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to Brad Cook. Brad is an energy efficiency professional who offers a wealth of knowledge about insulation and ventilation when it comes to tiny houses. In this conversation, we’ll nerd out about insulation and common myths about heating a tiny house.
The post Build Your House Tight and Ventilate Right with Brad Cook – #128 appeared first on The Tiny House.
It’s been a while since we’ve talked about steel framing so I thought it would be timely to invite Jay Leopold on the show. Jay is the chief engineer and designer at ThinHaus, which exclusively builds steel framed tiny homes. In this conversation we’ll battle it out over Steel Framing vs. SIPs, talk about the building envelope requirements for a steel framed home, and take a deep dive on certifications.
The post Steel Framed vs. SIPs: Tiny House Building Envelope Choices with Jay Leopold – #127 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Andrea Burns is here to tell us the story of her resilient and innovative tiny house, the Tomato Box. We discuss what it’s like building your tiny house while living there, how Andrea designed multiple systems for reheating and cooking, and her incredible recycled greywater system that allows her to reuse water over and over again.
The post Designing a Self-Contained, Recycled Greywater System with Andrea Burns – #126 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Sometime around March of 2020, I went to the grocery store to stock up on some things and discovered that most of the staples like flour, rice, beans, and toilet paper were out of stock. You may be able to relate to my experience, but my guest Matt Gabriel cannot. Matt is a Prepper who specializes in outdoor survival skills, and he’s here to help us get into a prepper mindset so we can learn to survive and thrive in whatever situations nature throws our way. AND how to do it while living tiny.
The post How to be a Tiny House Prepper: Bug Out Bags, Wild Edibles, and Outdoor Survival Skills with Matt Gabriel – #125 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Ever since reading the Life Changing Magic of Tidying UP, I’ve wanted to talk to a KonMari expert. I’m excited to bring you this conversation with Erin Mursch, where we’ll learn what makes Marie Kondo’s technique different, how to apply it to downsizing for a tiny house, and why organizing to “fit more stuff” isn’t the answer.
The post Less Clutter, More Joy: Interview with KonMari Expert, Erin Mursch – #124 appeared first on The Tiny House.
You may know him as the host of Tiny House Nation, but Zack Giffin has a lot going on in the tiny house world. Though he’s as close as we may come to a “tiny house celebrity”, Zack is a thoughtful advocate for tiny house living, those in need, and it shows in all of his pursuits. In this conversation, we’ll find out what draws Zack Giffin to the tiny house movement and what keeps him here. Plus, what’s it like working on a tiny house reality show? Stick around!
The post Inside the Mind of Zack Giffin: The Tiny House Nation Host, Entrepreneur, Advocate, and Builder – #123 appeared first on The Tiny House.
This week, I’m speaking with Brent Heavener, founder of the @tinyhouse Instagram account, which has over 800,000 followers and is a source of visual tiny house inspiration. Brent was able to use his large Instagram following to land a book deal. Tiny House is a collection of images of beautiful tiny homes and was written up in the New York Times.
The post The Making of an Instagram Tiny House Influencer with Brent Heavener – #122 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I consider Lina Menard to be a thought leader in the tiny house movement. She has been involved with countless builds on both the design and construction sides. Lina was an early proponent of SIPs and has continued to incorporate them into her work. In this interview, we’ll talk about common pitfalls that Lina sees across tiny house builds, issues with tiny house trailer designs, and the difference between a design-build process and a build-design process.
The post Design Build vs. Build Design: Making Tiny Design Work Better with Lina Menard – #121 appeared first on The Tiny House.
My guest today needs no introduction, but for the uninitiated, Jay Shafer is largely credited with sparking the modern tiny house movement when he built a little house on wheels and launched the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company about 20 years ago. In this interview, Jay will fill us in on what he's been up to lately, riff on the sad state of housing policy, and talk about his latest home: a super lightweight tiny house on wheels that weighs less than 2,000 lbs and cost about $5,000 to build.
The post The Past, Present and Future of Tiny Homes with Jay Shafer – #120 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Iana Sundari Malcolm is an inspiring guest who has been living and traveling in a Skoolie with her husband John since 2019. All the while she has been documenting her travels and experiences with racism across the country on her blog. I asked Iana to come on the show to tell us about these experiences and to learn how we can all do better to make tiny house living safe for black people and people of color.
The post Encountering Racism on the Road: Skoolie Travels and Living with Iana Sundari Malcolm – #119 appeared first on The Tiny House.
If you’ve ever gotten curious about minimalism, the name Joshua Becker might sound familiar. Becker’s Becoming Minimalist blog started as a way of sharing his own journey to minimalism and has grown to over 1000 articles, books, courses, and more. As always, Joshua is a humble evangelist for the benefit and beauty found in a life of minimalism.
The post An Introduction to Minimalism with Joshua Becker – #118 appeared first on The Tiny House.
This week, I’m excited to catch up with my friend Laura LaVoie. Laura and Matt were early tiny house bloggers that I followed while building my own house, and they really embody what I see as the tiny house lifestyle- going beyond what it means to just live in a tiny house and changing the entire course of their lives. Stick around!
The post The Philosophy of Tiny House Living with Laura LaVoie – #117 appeared first on The Tiny House.
I’m excited to bring you the story of Erika Guli. Erika is someone who purchased my guide, Tiny House Decisions way back in the day, and over the years I’ve followed her through Facebook as she designed and built a gorgeous and unique tiny house called the sun chaser. In this conversation, we talk about the design and build process, what Erika would do differently, and how living tiny has changed her life.
The post Building the Sun Chaser: DIY Tiny Living with Erika Guli – #116 appeared first on The Tiny House.
The Bushes are a tiny house couple with an extraordinary back story. Over the first two years of living tiny, they were able to pay off $125,000 in debt. In this interview, Marek and Ko will share the strategies they used to get out of debt, how they continue to live intentionally, and how their Youtube channel has changed their lives.
The post How to Go Tiny and Pay Off $125k In Debt with The Bushes – #115 appeared first on The Tiny House.
There's no shortage of innovative and creative uses for tiny homes and today's guest is no exception! Wheel Pad produces universally accessible prefab home additions that help keep people with disabilities home with their loved ones. In this interview, I sit down with Julie Lineberger, the President of Wheel Pad, to talk about the why, the how, and how much.
The post Universally Accessible, Pre-Fab Home Additions from Wheel Pad – #114 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Boxabl is Creating a Modular, Foldable, Affordable Building System for Tiny Houses and Beyond It’s not often that I extend an invitation to the podcast from a cold email, but when Galiano Tiramani sent me photos of Boxabl’s Casita, I knew I had to have him on the show. The Casita is Boxabl’s modular ADU that ships flat and is easily assembled on-site for just $49,500. In this conversation, we’ll talk about the technology, manufacturing, and future plans for this innovative startup.
The post Boxabl is Creating a Modular, Foldable, Affordable Building System for Tiny Houses and Beyond – #113 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Justin and Bianca Metz live in a 240sf tiny home with their toddler, Bodhi. The journey to living tiny was anything but smooth. After a terrible experience towing the house which resulted in a $7000 towing bill, finding parking wasn't easy. They are now living as land stewards in trade for tiny house parking. Living tiny has enabled Bianca and Justin to live in more connection with nature, and we cover it all in this interview, from permaculture to parking, to parenting.
The post Parenting, Permaculture, and Parking: Justin and Bianca’s Tiny House Journey – #112 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Kristie Wolfe is an Airbnb rockstar. Even if you don't recognize her name, you've probably seen one of her incredible Airbnb's, whether it's her treehouse in Hawaii, her Hobbit Holes in Washington, or her Fire Tower in Idaho. She also transformed the old Idaho potato into a bohemian chic hotel room. Kristie is also extremely frugal- she builds her tiny homes for a fraction of what you would expect by looking at them, using salvaged materials and making things herself. In this conversation, we cover Kristie's building philosophy, how she transforms properties into desirable Airbnbs, how she finds cheap land, and more.
The post How to Buy Inexpensive Land, Build for Cheap, and Dominate Airbnb with Kristie Wolfe – #111 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Jennifer Fuist used to be a hoarder but was so tired of her belongings controlling her that she decided to change her life once and for all. She sold over 4000 items on Facebook and in the end, was finally free to live more simply. Fast forward 1.5 years and Jen's been sharing her tiny house journey & lifestyle with the world on her YouTube Channel, Tiny Dreamer. She lives with her 3 cats and runs a small herbal & natural remedy business out of her tiny home called Goddess of Herbs! Here is her story!
The post From Hoarder to Tiny House Dweller with Jennifer Fuist – #110 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Kari Gale sold everything she owned, booked a one way ticket to Spain, walked the Camino de Santiago. Upon her return, Kari built an amazing tiny house on wheels that has some features that have made it a very popular YouTube video tour on Living Big in a Tiny House. In this conversation with we talk about the special features of Kari's house, and the journey that brought her to tiny living. So, what's it like to sell everything you own? Kari shows us how her journey helped inspire her tiny house lifestyle and how we can all apply lessons from her travels to our own lives.
The post What it Takes to Sell Everything You Own and Live Tiny with Kari Gale – #109 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Richard Ward of Terraform Tiny Homes has built and lived in three different Tiny Homes named T1, T2, and T3. These include a converted Honda element, a very small tiny house built on a converted boat trailer, and a full-size gooseneck tiny house. Richard's homes are really well thought out, and he actually practices the tiny lifestyle that he helps others achieve. Richard recently purchased a tract of land outside of Bisbee, Arizona, where he is setting up an off-grid, tiny homestead of sorts, and welcoming other tiny houses to come and live. In this conversation, we'll kind of talk about his life journey that led him to the tiny lifestyle, his various tiny homes, and his latest endeavor setting up a permanent property for a tiny house homestead in the desert.
The post How to Set Up an Off-Grid Tiny Homestead in the Desert with Richard Ward – #108 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Sophia and Henry are currently living in their self-designed and built 28' THOW in Northern Minnesota, where they experience a full range of seasons, including a very cold and long winter. We start with an in-depth discussion of how they are staying warm in their tiny house and preventing their water from freezing on the way in and the way out. If you're thinking of living in a cold climate, this is not to be missed. From there, we turn to rethinking the American dream and a discussion about values, lifestyles, and where a tiny house fits in for a young couple. Don't miss this interview with Sophia and Henry Jungbauer!
The post Rethinking The American Dream with Sophia and Henry Jungbauer – #107 appeared first on The Tiny House.
When you're living off-grid in a van or sailboat, you have to plan carefully to make sure you have things like food and water. Today on the show, we are joined by Kristin Hanes, the editor in chief of the popular tiny living blog, The Wayward Home. Kristin's first experience with tiny living started by living in a Prius(!) with her partner. It then progressed to a sailboat, and finally a Chevy Astro Van. Kristin has spent extensive time boondocking in the van and sailing off-shore. In this interview, we'll talk about how she prepares for living off-grid for weeks at a time- how to plan, shop and store things like food and water. Plus, we'll talk about the benefits of the boondocking lifestyle.
The post How to Prepare for Boondocking: Food, Water, and Supplies for Off-grid Life in a Van, Boat, or Tiny House with Kristin Hanes – #106 appeared first on The Tiny House.
After practicing primitive living and building for several years, Natalie Bogwalker turned her attention to teaching. Bogwalker teaches many natural building techniques at her school, Wild Abundance. But what is natural building? There are so many different techniques, and Natalie helps us focus on practicality when it comes to choosing a natural building method. Natalie also has a strong background in permaculture and will give us a primer on how it intersects with the tiny house movement. Natalie is here to share the message that learning to build is a gateway to self-empowerment.
The post Learning to Build with Wild Abundance: Natural Building, Permaculture, and Empowerment with Natalie Bogwalker – #105 appeared first on The Tiny House.
Danielle LaRock and Jonathan Carnill are the founders of Tiny Haven, which offers unique tiny homes, airstream, and cabin rentals in the Harpers Ferry, VA area. Danielle and Jonathan have purchased 3 small houses (2 on wheels), plus an airstream. On the road to creating their business, they ran into some legal hurdles that required them to move all three of their tinies. We'll cover it all in this interview.
The post The Bumpy Road to a Tiny House Rental Business with Danielle LaRock and Jonathan Carnill – #104 appeared first on The Tiny House.