Join us for a fascinating conversation with Tsvi Mostovicz, the visionary behind Home Assistant's Jewish calendar component, which he developed to enable crucial Sabbath-compliant automations. Discover his pragmatic approach to smart home harmony, seamlessly integrating Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi devices for everything from privacy-focused voice control to automated synagogue lighting.

Watch the full episode on YouTube

https://hasspodcast.io/ha201

Special thanks to today's guest Tsvi

Tsvi's Github: https://github.com/tsvi

Tsvi's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsvim

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:03 Tsvi's Journey into Home Automation

00:02:32 Challenges and Evolution of Home Automation Systems

00:10:00 Building Home Assistant Integrations

00:16:27 Home Automation for Religious Practices

00:18:43 Maintenance and Future of Integrations

00:26:14 Favorite Home Automations and Troubleshooting

00:32:53 Forward Simulation Concept

00:35:20 Automation Interfaces and Challenges

00:36:03 Dashboard Management

00:38:10 Hot Water System Integration

00:40:40 Smart Home Cameras and AI

00:44:18 Future Plans for Smart Home

00:50:39 Community and Impact

Support the Podcast

Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors

Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa

Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.

Zooz

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.

So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com

Hosts

Phil Hawthorne

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @philhawthorne

Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

Buy Phil a Coffee

Rohan Karamandi

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @rohank9

Buy Rohan a Coffee

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Home Assistant has launched their own Z-wave radio. 2025.9 lands with a new experimental home screen. Meanwhile Rohan and Phil discuss LLM Vision and some of its use cases

Watch the full episode on YouTube

https://hasspodcast.io/ha200

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:14 Home Assistant Connect ZWA2

00:03:01 Z-Wave Network Challenges and Migration

00:16:45 Rainbird Integration and Irrigation Setup

00:23:25 New Features in Home Assistant 2025.9

00:30:13 Introduction to Smart Home Automation

00:33:17 Husqvarna Automower Features

00:35:54 Reolink Doorbell Updates

00:38:00 PlayStation and Unify Integrations

00:39:11 Tesla and Other Cars Integration

00:41:21 Weather and Bayesian Sensors

00:44:10 AI Vision and Home Automation

00:51:40 New Integrations: Seco, Sleep as Android

00:53:56 Breaking and Backward Incompatible Changes

00:55:26 Hacs Components: Person Location

Support the Podcast

Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors

Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa

Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.

Zooz

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.

So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com

Hosts

Phil Hawthorne

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @philhawthorne

Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

Buy Phil a Coffee

Rohan Karamandi

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @rohank9

Buy Rohan a Coffee

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Curious about Shelly? COO Doug Roberson explains their local control philosophy, versatile products, and commitment to empowering your Home Assistant experience

Watch the full episode on YouTube

https://hasspodcast.io/ha199

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:54 Intro to Doug from Shelly

00:03:04 Shelly's Product Offerings

00:03:41 Privacy and Local Control

00:08:56 Shelly's Certification and Community

00:14:32 Automation and Use Cases

00:25:46 Applications in Professional Spaces

00:27:25 Introduction to Network Failover with Devices

00:28:48 Exploring Shelly's Core Features and Automation

00:32:14 Real-Life Home Automation Experiences

00:33:35 Advanced Energy Management Strategies

00:39:03 Innovative Use Cases for Shelly Products

00:40:50 Getting into Smart Home Technology

00:42:36 New Irrigation Solutions and ShelleyX

00:50:50 Business and Education Initiatives

00:54:25 Classroom Training on Shelly Products

00:55:50 Introduction to North American Wiring

00:56:38 Training and Meetups

00:58:52 Product Wishlist

01:05:47 Irrigation and Automation

01:07:14 Community Feedback

Support the Podcast

Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors

Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa

Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.

Zooz

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.

So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com

Hosts

Phil Hawthorne

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @philhawthorne

Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

Buy Phil a Coffee

Rohan Karamandi

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @rohank9

Buy Rohan a Coffee

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join us as we talk with Scott, a licensed Electrician with a deep IT background who's been bouncing between code and conduit for years. Discover how this empty-nester crafts ingenious automations, from power monitoring with custom solutions to integrating nine pinball machines

Watch the full episode on YouTube

https://hasspodcast.io/ha198

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:53 Guest Introduction: Scott the Sparky

00:01:08 Scott's Home Automation Journey

00:04:25 Challenges with DIY and PLCs

00:07:35 Home Automation Concerns and Sustainability

00:22:35 Scott's Water Management and Fire Protection Plans

00:29:48 Introduction to LoRa and Challenges

00:30:42 Powering Devices & Solar Solutions

00:31:26 Communication Projects: MeshTastic

00:31:41 Bushfire Resilience and Backup Solutions

00:32:16 Exploring LoRa Applications

00:32:41 Solar Solutions for ESP32

00:35:15 Z-Wave and Zigbee Discussion

00:37:16 Advantages of Z-Wave Over ZigBee

00:45:43 Power Monitoring Solutions

00:46:43 Smart Home Automation with Shelly

00:48:14 Challenges with Exporting Solar

00:53:30 Animal Automation & Security

00:57:44 Introduction to AI in Home Automation

00:58:07 Automating Fox Detection

00:59:37 The Role of Cameras and Reolink Integration

01:01:09 Exploring Advanced Automation Scenarios

01:07:32 AI in Home Automation: Prospects and Concerns

01:11:35 Challenges and Opportunities in AI and Automation

01:15:17 Simplifying Home Automation for Life

01:18:47 Community and Innovation in Home Automation

01:20:17 Fun with Pinball Machines and Automation

Support the Podcast

Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors

Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa

Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.

Zooz

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.

So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com

Hosts

Phil Hawthorne

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @philhawthorne

Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

Buy Phil a Coffee

Rohan Karamandi

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @rohank9

Buy Rohan a Coffee

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Phil and Rohan sit down with Jürgen, co-founder of Nuki - a smart lock provider from Europe who has just joined the Works with Home Assistant program. Jürgen shares insights into Nuki's vision, emphasizing their commitment to user-friendly solutions that integrate seamlessly with Home Assistant. 

Watch the full episode on YouTube

https://hasspodcast.io/ha197

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:04 Professional vs. DIY Automation

00:03:19 Home Automation Tools

00:04:42 Automation in TJ's Home

00:06:52 Role of Home Assistant

00:17:10 Podcasting Experience

00:24:16 E-Waste and Gadgets

00:24:52 Innovative Devices

00:26:15 Enthusiast Discussion

00:27:42 Smart Locks & Security

00:28:25 Zigbee vs. Z-Wave

00:32:48 Smart Home Tech Future

00:42:28 Managing Automation

00:46:41 Automation Introduction

00:47:10 Sonos Integration

00:49:30 Video & HDMI Setup

00:52:52 Media Consumption

00:53:59 Smart Home Automations

00:54:10 Gardening Automation

01:04:24 Garden Lighting

01:10:05 Smart Home Tech Introduction

01:10:15 Implementing Home Tech

01:10:29 Design & User Experience

01:10:45 Flexibility & Control

Support the Podcast

Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors

Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa

Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.

Zooz

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.

So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com

Hosts

Phil Hawthorne

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @philhawthorne

Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

Buy Phil a Coffee

Rohan Karamandi

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @rohank9

Buy Rohan a Coffee

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Home Assistant AI Tasks can now help you name and tag your automations, meanwhile the cloud strikes again thanks to Belkin and FutureHome

Watch the full episode on YouTube

https://hasspodcast.io/ha196

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:38 Episode Overview and Topics

00:01:21 Belkin Wemo Disruption

00:06:00 FutureHome Bankruptcy

00:07:59 Home Assistant Isometric Animated Picture Card

00:10:54 Viewer Feedback and Streaming Issues

00:21:37 AI Integration in Home Assistant

00:29:10 Introduction to LLM Vision

00:29:22 LLM Vision Features

00:31:38 Voice Processing Improvements

00:32:53 UI Changes in 2025.8

00:33:29 Matter Support Updates

00:34:22 PiHole API and Data Breach

00:37:53 Home Assistant Integrations

00:43:04 WiFi Presence Detection

Support the Podcast

Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors

Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa

Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.

Zooz

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.

So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com

Hosts

Phil Hawthorne

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @philhawthorne

Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

Buy Phil a Coffee

Rohan Karamandi

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @rohank9

Buy Rohan a Coffee

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Phil and Rohan sit down with Jürgen, co-founder of Nuki - a smart lock provider from Europe who has just joined the Works with Home Assistant program. Jürgen shares insights into Nuki's vision, emphasizing their commitment to user-friendly solutions that integrate seamlessly with Home Assistant. 

Watch the full episode on YouTube

https://hasspodcast.io/ha195

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:00 Jürgen's Background and Nuki’s Vision

00:02:06 The Inception of Nuki and Product Development

00:04:31 Kickstarter Success and Market Entry

00:05:11 Product Differences between Europe and US

00:06:40 Product Evolution and New Features

00:12:29 Software and Firmware Updates

00:16:29 Integration with Home Assistant

00:20:30 Matter and Thread Implementation

00:23:43 Parallel API Use and Customer Choice

00:27:48 Entering the US Market

00:28:19 Product Design Considerations

00:29:10 Tariffs and Manufacturing Challenges

00:30:20 Security and Privacy Concerns

00:36:21 First Steps in Smart Home Development

00:37:44 Design and Hardware Integration

00:41:38 Sounds of Nuki

00:45:24 Collaboration with Home Assistant

00:52:20 Future Prospects for Smart Locks

00:55:46 Introduction of NFC and Ultra-Wideband Lockdown

00:56:18 Exploration of Biometric Technology

00:58:04 Challenges with Current Access Technologies

00:58:44 User Experience and Feature Preferences

00:59:53 Discussion on Simplifying Smart Locks

01:01:39 Nuki Product Overview and Availability

01:03:27 Home Assistant and Collaboration

Support the Podcast

Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors

Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa

Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.

Zooz

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.

So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com

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Hosts

Phil Hawthorne

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @philhawthorne

Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

Buy Phil a Coffee

Rohan Karamandi

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @rohank9

Buy Rohan a Coffee

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join us as Paul Riley, an engineer with a background in rocket fuel systems, shares his journey into smart home automation. Discover how he leverages Home Assistant to tackle practical "little things" like a demisting mirror and even automate his boat. Paul also discusses his passion for ESPHome, exploring local AI applications, and fostering the next generation of tinkerers in electronics.

Watch the full episode on YouTube

https://hasspodcast.io/ha194

Chapters

00:00:14 Guest Introduction: Paul

00:01:39 Paul's Background in Electronics

00:06:05 Career Highlights

00:08:41 Home Automation and Rockets

00:13:57 Current Work and Tech Advancements

00:18:35 Paul's Personal Home Automation Projects

00:27:21 Introduction to Smart Gadgets

00:28:32 Home Automation Innovations

00:31:00 Gadget Enthusiast's Collection

00:39:00 AI in Daily Life

00:41:33 AI and Automation

00:47:36 Smart Home Automations

00:52:05 Challenges of Automation on a Boat

00:53:15 Voltage Converter Setup

00:53:46 Pros and Cons of Thermostats

00:55:41 Voice Control Devices

00:57:05 Cloud Systems and Security

00:59:06 Getting Started: Electronics & Home Assistant

Support the Podcast

Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors

Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa

Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.

Zooz

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.

So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com

Hosts

Phil Hawthorne

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @philhawthorne

Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

Buy Phil a Coffee

Rohan Karamandi

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @rohank9

Buy Rohan a Coffee

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We sit down with Mark Watt from Mark Watt Tech — the high-fiving hero of Home Assistant tutorials — to chat all things smart home, AI, and turning 3D printing into a side hustle.

We dive into how AI is reshaping home automation, the evolution of the Home Assistant project, and Mark’s creative journey from software tinkerer to YouTuber… to running a 3D printing business with his wife! Whether you're deep into ESPHome or just wondering why your Tuya plug still needs the internet, there's something here for every smart home enthusiast.

Watch the full episode on YouTube

https://hasspodcast.io/ha193

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:13 Meet our Guest - Mark Watt Tech

00:01:43 Creator Calls

00:02:41 Getting Started with YouTube

00:06:02 Home Automation Journey

00:08:18 Home Assistant and Technology

00:11:02 Opinions on Matter

00:17:24 Favorite Home Automation Setups

00:26:50 Piracy and Services

00:28:18 Voice Models and Annoyance

00:29:20 Self-hosting AI

00:30:32 Voice Automation Challenges

00:35:52 YouTube Channel and Personal Projects

00:40:22 Home Automation Advice

00:43:15 Innovative Home Automation Hacks

00:45:21 Creating Content on YouTube

00:47:00 Music Assistant and Voice Assistants

00:51:50 Upcoming Plans and Projects

00:53:38 Introduction and Jealousy

00:53:52 Smart Home Creation

00:54:09 YouTube Break and 3D Printing

00:54:17 3D Printing Business

00:54:44 New YouTube Channel Plans

00:55:11 Waiting for New Printer

00:55:34 Video Content Ideation

00:57:01 Security and AI in Video Feeds

00:58:02 OpenAI Image Processing

00:58:53 YAML Integration Plans

00:59:31 Conclusion and Thanks

Support the Podcast

Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors

Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa

Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.

Zooz

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.

So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com

Hosts

Phil Hawthorne

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @philhawthorne

Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

Buy Phil a Coffee

Rohan Karamandi

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @rohank9

Buy Rohan a Coffee

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Home Assistant 2025.7 is here, with a much-requested feature, the ability for Voice PE to ask you questions. Rohan and Phil discuss the possibilities and break down some other new features that have been packed into this release

Watch the full episode on YouTube

https://hasspodcast.io/ha192

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:08 Home Assistant Voice Chapter 10

00:04:25 Community Feedback

00:05:56 Smoke Detector Options

00:11:21 Home Assistant 2025.7 Updates

00:21:29 Integration Subentities

00:25:35 UI Improvements and Features

00:29:01 Home Assistant Configuration

00:30:20 AI and OpenAI Discussions

00:32:08 API Integrations and Experiments

00:34:08 Samsung and Smart Home Integrations

00:38:24 New Integrations and Features

00:41:03 Breaking Changes

00:42:03 Plex Media Server Discussion

00:46:33 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

Support the Podcast

Get early-access to episodes and an ad-free feed by supporting our Patreon.

Support Rohan and Phil on Patreon

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors

Home Assistant Cloud by Nabu Casa

Easily connect to Google and Amazon voice assistants for a small monthly fee that also supports the Home Assistant project. Configuration is via the User Interface so no fiddling with router settings, dynamic DNS, or YAML.

Zooz

If you're looking to upgrade your smart home - you can’t go past Zooz! Zooz offers a range of affordable and innovative devices, including water leak sensors, water valve controllers, smart plugs and scene controllers.

So for the best prices on all Zooz products, head over to thesmartesthouse.com

Hosts

Phil Hawthorne

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @philhawthorne

Bluesky: @philhawthorne.com

Buy Phil a Coffee

Rohan Karamandi

Website

Smart Home Products

Twitter: @rohank9

Buy Rohan a Coffee

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy