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 t...
Jan 08, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 144
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...
Jan 01, 2021•53 min•Ep. 143
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 ar...
Dec 25, 2020•47 min•Ep. 142
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...
Dec 18, 2020•47 min•Ep. 141
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...
Dec 11, 2020•46 min•Ep. 140
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 elem...
Dec 04, 2020•46 min•Ep. 139
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 Gard...
Nov 27, 2020•43 min•Ep. 138
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 Dari...
Nov 20, 2020•53 min•Ep. 137
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-A...
Nov 13, 2020•48 min•Ep. 136
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 –...
Nov 06, 2020•44 min•Ep. 135
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 . Se...
Oct 30, 2020•34 min•Ep. 134
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...
Oct 23, 2020•43 min•Ep. 133
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...
Oct 16, 2020•58 min•Ep. 136
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 – ...
Oct 09, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 131
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 Ll...
Oct 02, 2020•55 min•Ep. 130
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...
Sep 25, 2020•48 min•Ep. 129
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 com...
Sep 18, 2020•47 min•Ep. 128
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 ...
Sep 11, 2020•57 min•Ep. 127
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 . Send us a text Support the show Listen. Sub...
Sep 04, 2020•58 min•Ep. 126
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. T...
Aug 28, 2020•46 min•Ep. 125
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 . Send us a text Support the show Listen. Subscribe. Ra...
Aug 21, 2020•42 min•Ep. 124
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 G...
Aug 14, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 123
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 . Send us a text Support the show...
Aug 07, 2020•38 min•Ep. 122
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:...
Jul 31, 2020•52 min•Ep. 121
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 po...
Jul 24, 2020•57 min•Ep. 120
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 Mal...
Jul 17, 2020•48 min•Ep. 119
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 . Send us a text Support the show Listen. Subscribe. Ra...
Jul 10, 2020•42 min•Ep. 118
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 . Send us a text Support the show Listen. Subscribe. Rate. Rev...
Jul 03, 2020•38 min•Ep. 117
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...
Jun 26, 2020•44 min•Ep. 116
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 . Send us a text Support the show Listen. Subscribe. Rat...
Jun 19, 2020•38 min•Ep. 115
