Welcome to another weekly Side Quest episode of How to Handyma’am! 🎙️✨
In this episode, we’re diving into porch-garden drama, real-life shop safety lessons, and an honest Q&A session unpacking everything from switching careers at 44 to busting major cabinet painting myths.
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In This Episode:
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• 🌻 Arly’s Porch Garden vs. Squirrel Heists: How local squirrels managed to haul off giant 8-inch sunflower heads right off the sidewalk.
• 🪵 Table Saw Kickback & Childhood Myths: Samantha shares a recent table saw kickback story—why a 2x4 push stick saved her hands—and reframes a childhood fear about bandsaws vs. table saws.
• 🛠️ Q&A: Pivoting into Trades Later in Life:
• How Samantha switched careers at age 44 after 26 years in the professional world.
• The "pursuer of joy" mindset and overcoming the fear of starting over.
• Practical advice for women wanting to break into home improvement (painting, Habitat for Humanity, Home Builders Associations).
• The reality check of working IN a business vs. working ON a business.
• 🔩 Q&A: Trimming Cabinet Hardware Screws:
• Why cutting break-off machine screws usually ruins the threads.
• Simple hacks: Using washers for loose handles, buying Amazon hardware kits, or using a vise and hacksaw.
• 🎨 Q&A: The Truth About Chipping Cabinet Paint & Contractor "Kickbacks":
• Debunking the myth that contractors get kickbacks from paint brands.
• Why Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane and Benjamin Moore Advance are both great—and why CHIPPING is a 100% preparation failure, not a paint failure.
• The ultimate 6-step cabinet prep process (degreasing, washing, mechanical sanding, dust removal, chemical etching, and shellac primer).
• Budget paint tips: Why you should never use flat paint on walls, buying un-tinted paint during 30–40% off sales, and Dutch Boy containers.
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🎧 LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
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• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-handymaam-a-home-improvement-comedy-podcast/id1858097879
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJ623LRS6Dluzpkiv45Xs
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👋 ABOUT US
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We are Samantha, Emily, and Arly—the crew behind How to Handyma'am. We started a licensed handyman business in Lansing, MI to give women the agency, skills, and confidence to fix their own homes!
Disclaimer: For educational and entertainment purposes. Check local building codes when necessary!