Welcome, friends! This week our Handy Hosts Samantha, Emily, and Arly round out our painting

series with a focus on choosing paint color. If staring at a display of paint swatches leaves you

perplexed and standing on the precipice, this episode is for you!

We kick off with a special dedication to Arly’s mom Barbara Streed, a cheerleader in our

mission to support women in the trades. Emily teases us with her top ten favorite shades of

white and we learn why, if you find yourself on a deserted island, the back of a leaf may be the

best shade of green. Samantha shares why it is important to have choices when it comes to

letting contractors in your home and to always advocate for yourself in tough moments…

because you matter and you are loved.

If nothing else, we can take inspiration from the other “Panera Ninja” in the family, Emily’s

humanoid dog Lemon, who lives her colorful life “loudly, proudly, and insanely”.

Join us as we work toward our goal of funding future in-person classes and an apprenticeship

academy for women in construction. You can help by tuning in each week and sharing the love

for women in the trades... let’s get handy!

2:29 Tips for choosing a contractor

8:13 Lemon, the human dog in fur

17:13 Paint sheen and why it’s important

19:16 Should you do whatever you want?

26:17 Emily’s designer tip

36:15 It’s Game time, friends!

43:33 Our favorite tips (besides “the brush”)

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ​Community: Join the⁠⁠⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics!

Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's

Lemon Content

• https://www.instagram.com/p/DTA_c2_gICn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Us!

• ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Blog Post: https://www.myhandymaam.com/handymaam-blog/ep-5-safety-first-desert-island-tools-and-how-to-pick-a-paint-color

Credits

• Host -Samantha Pearl
• ​Host- Arly Streed
• ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist
• ​Editing and Music by Thomas Streed

It’s never the big things that build trust and deeply bonded relationships…it’s always the small things.  Sharing in the joy is the reward you get for sharing in life’s daily indignities. 

In this week’s episode, Emily, Samantha, and Arly talk about how building a culture of joy, support, and grace is about action – it’s bringing the problems into the light, talking about the hard things, and approaching every single conversation with preservation of the relationship as the end goal.   

Join us here to learn how we keep our crew together through all the difficult days inherent in any high-service, high-performance industry.

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ​Community: Join the⁠⁠⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics!

Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

• ​⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's⁠⁠⁠⁠

Blog Post: https://www.myhandymaam.com/handymaam-blog/sidequest-03-relationship-maintenance-amp-building-a-crew-that-lasts

Connect with Us!

• ​Web:⁠⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ​Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits

• Host -Samantha Pearl
• ​Host- Arly Streed
• ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist
• ​Music- Thomas Streed

Hey there, Handyma'ams!

Welcome to the How to Handyma'am podcast, where hosts Samantha, Emily, and Arly from MyHandyma'am are diving into the most critical (and least glamorous) step of any painting project: Paint Prep!

Before you even pop a can of paint, you need to know the starting steps. In this episode, we're talking about everything from getting the "floof" off your rollers to using joint compound for wall repair.

You'll learn:

• Why washing your walls is a non-negotiable step (especially in the kitchen!).

• The secret to flawless paint patches with the right primer, and the specific, powerful jobs of shellac (oil-based) primer.

• The final, seamless step: caulking like a pro.

• The great debate: "Cutting In" Freehand vs. Painter's Tape—and the one time you absolutely must use tape. Plus, some clever painting hacks like the "paintbrush on a stick" for high places.

This one is for all the DIYers—and for our matriarch and first customer, Sue T. We also drop in with an update on our pets, Winnie, Lemon, Satchmo, and Patches! 

Our goal is to eventually fund in-person classes and an apprenticeship academy for women in construction, so tune in and let's get handy!

01:28 Pets, pets, and did we mention our pets? 

15:22 Tips and tricks for rollers

20:20 Paint prep introduction

22:42 Washing walls is important 

25:24 Wall repair 

29:57 Primer 

41:35 Caulking

44:28 Painters tape vs Cutting in 

50:14 Paint brush on a stick 

52:48 Why a podcast? 

55:21 Where to find us! 

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ​Community: Join the⁠⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics!

Blog Post: https://www.myhandymaam.com/handymaam-blog/ep-4-the-painting-pre-game-show-painting-103-how-to-properly-prep-for-your-paint-job

Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

• ​⁠⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Us!

• ​Web:⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠
• ​Socials:⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠

Credits

• Host -Samantha Pearl
• ​Host- Arly Streed
• ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist
• ​Editing and Music by Thomas Streed

Welcome back to the Sidequest! In these bonus episodes, we step away from the classroom curriculum to share stories from the field, chat about what drives us, and get to know the How to Handyma’am crew a little better.

In this episode, Samantha, Arly, and Emily dive into the "why" behind home repair. We talk about breaking the cycle of "inherited male skills" and the power of choice—like knowing how to swap a $5 wax ring on your toilet so you can save your budget for the things you actually want to pay for (like a house cleaner!).

Plus, we reveal our personal favorite projects. Arly geeks out on the satisfying magic of trim carpentry—specifically that moment when caulk and paint make all the imperfections disappear. Meanwhile, Emily shares the success of her first full design project and drops a massive design secret: it’s all about the toilet lever.

Tune in for a dose of motivation to tackle that one nagging task in your house, and learn why "making it beautiful" is just as important as making it work.

In this Sidequest, we cover:

• The "Nagging Task" Rule: How to pick your first project to get that dopamine hit.

• The Power of Choice: Why DIY isn't just about saving money; it's about not getting taken advantage of.

• Arly’s Trim Obsession: Why painting, caulking, and wood filler are the ultimate magic tricks for a professional finish.

• Emily’s Design Sense: How to "see things that don't exist" and the tiny details (like matching hardware) that elevate a room.

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ​Community: Join the⁠⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics!

Blog Post: https://www.myhandymaam.com/handymaam-blog/sidequest-02-the-magic-of-trim-toilet-levers-amp-why-we-diy

Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

• ​⁠⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Us!

• ​Web:⁠⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠⁠
• ​Socials:⁠⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠

Credits

• Host -Samantha Pearl
• ​Host- Arly Streed
• ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist
• ​Music- Thomas Streed

 Welcome! If this is your third week joining us, or your first, thank you for being here. The Handyma’ams use their hard-earned and field-tested expertise to entertain, educate, and help you to feel less alone when you’re “doing it yourself”—they’ve done it the hard way, so you don’t have to. 
             In this Brush School for Junkies, join us to receive top marks as the Handiest of ma’ams develop crushes on brushes and scribble little hearts in their notebooks next to their favorite paint products. 
             The Handyma’ams chitchatchitchatchitchat and weigh the mysteries of purple vegetables, and we are left to wonder, could Emily moonlight as a master chef on “Chopped”? Who knew you can pickle banana peels! (Hint: it is Handychef Emily). Samantha—the not-so-complex carbohydrate connoisseur, sugar sister, and Mountain Dew diva—questions the maternity of epicurean Emily while Arly articulates and educates us with a deep dive into the wild world of paint brushes and why the details matter.  

Many thanks to our supporters, cheerleaders, and listeners for following us on this journey. Muah! We love you! <3 

1:28 Chitchat

12:42 Kinds of Brushes

18:29 Brush Stiffness and How to Choose

23:44 Insider Handy Tips for Brush Care  

24:58 How to Wash and Rinse Your Brushes 

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ​Community: Join the⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics!

Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

• ​⁠⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's⁠⁠

Connect with Us!

• ​Web:⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠
• ​Socials:⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠

Credits

• Host -Samantha Pearl
• ​Host- Arly Streed
• ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist
• ​Editing and Music by Thomas Streed

Welcome to our very first SideQuest! These mini-episodes are "bonus snippets from the field" where we share the stories, challenges, and crazy moments that don't make it into our main episodes.

To kick off this series, we go behind the scenes of MyHandyma'am to answer the question: How did we all get here?

Arly shares how she went from a biology student to becoming our first full-time employee, and Emily explains how an artist’s brain is the perfect match for home renovation. Plus, we discuss the "Villager Mentality" and the powerful moment at a domestic violence shelter that clarified our mission: helping women feel safe in their own homes.

Links & Resources Mentioned

​Community: Join the⁠⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics!https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EKq23JThH/Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront: https://shoplowes.me/4i2zfaI​⁠Connect with Us!​Web:⁠⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠⁠​

Blog Post: https://www.myhandymaam.com/handymaam-blog/sidequest-01-from-science-labs-to-power-tools-and-why-it-matters

Socials:⁠⁠ @howtohandymaam

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠⁠

Credits Host -Samantha Pearl​

Host- Arly Streed

Host - Emily Pearl Reist

Music - Thomas Streed

In our second-ever episode, The Handyma’ams surprise, delight, and sometimes scare us with their tales from the field. Will they self-sabotage with food poisoning at a questionable lunch location or buck up with “stick-to-it-ive-ness” and keep going despite their setbacks?  

Join us this week and find out why Arly nearly walked off the job, Samantha was left sobbing over a piece of trim, and Emily entered in the 7th circle of hell while removing wallpaper.  

The Handiest of ma’ams also debate the merit and mediocrity of paint sheens in this week’s game “Rate-a-data-doo” with Arly. Find out the paint sheen rated “11,000” out of 5 stars by Emily and which ones Samantha gives a sideways thumb… the equivalent of 3 out of 5 stars, in case you’re curious.     

They also clarify which paints are made out of water, which ones are definitely not made out of spaghetti but could be, and which ones they recommend using in your home.  

Whether this is your second week joining us or your first, thank you for being here as The Handyma’ams use their hard-earned and field-tested expertise to entertain, educate, and help you to feel less alone while you’re “doing it yourself”. 

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ​Community: Join the⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics!

Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

• ​⁠Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's

Blog Post: https://www.myhandymaam.com/handymaam-blog/blog-post-title-two-t5hxx⁠

Connect with Us!

• ​Web:⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠
• ​Socials:⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠
• https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠

Credits

• Host -Samantha Pearl
• ​Host- Arly Streed
• ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist
• ​Editing and Music by Thomas Streed

Tune in for a special bonus episode of "How to Handyma'am"! Before launching our first official episode, we recorded several sessions. These initial recordings were full of fun and productive chaos, helping us nail down our format and find our rhythm. While we aren't releasing those full episodes, they contain some fantastic moments! This bonus content is pulled from our very first recording session and offers insight into a part of our "why" and our overall vision.

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ​Community: Join the⁠ How to Handyma’am Facebook Group⁠ to ask questions and post your project pics!

Products We Love:

Connect with Us!

• ​Web:⁠ myhandymaam.com⁠

• ​Socials:⁠ @howtohandymaam⁠⁠

• https://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam⁠

Credits

• Host -Samantha Pearl

• ​Host- Arly Streed

• ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist

• Commentator- Cher Miller

• Theme music - Thomas Streed

Join us for the first-ever episode of “How to Handyma’am”, where our project-loving hosts and occasional murder-enthusiasts discuss the best starter tool kit for homeowners and DIY’ers alike, with Arly’s special “Cheap or Quality” game. Samantha and Emily battle it out for points and bragging rights over what tools to thrift, barter, and splurge on.  

Their cheerful and quirky anecdotes, real-life tales of murder, Panera wins, mini-celebrations, and tool tips will help you on your way to being as handy as these Handyma’ams. They even have tool recommendations from the actual baby of the family.  

We welcome you on this journey, where the Handiest of ma’ams share their hard-earned and field-tested expertise to entertain, educate, and help you to feel less alone when you’re “doing it yourself”. 

Timestamps

• ​00:00 – Intro & The Panera Ninja Story
• ​02:41 – Sex and the City Personality Traits
• ​05:04 – Murder Pods & Things We Love
• ​12:22 – The “Cheap or Quality” Game: Essentials for Homeowners
• ​1:15:11 – The 3 Essentials for the Ambitious DIY’er
• ​1:30:00 – Closing

Links & Resources Mentioned

• ​Community: Join the How to Handyma’am Facebook Group to ask questions and post your project pics!
• ​Estate Sales: EstateSales.net (Great for finding cheap hand tools).
• ​Podcast Recommendations: My Favorite Murder, Buried Bones, Morbid

Products We Love: Find the tools mentioned in this episode at our storefront:

• ​Shop the Handyma'am Favorites on Lowe's

Connect with Us!

• ​Web: myhandymaam.com
• ​Socials: @howtohandymaamhttps://linktr.ee/howtohandymaam

Episode Blog Post: https://www.myhandymaam.com/handymaam-blog/cheap-vs-quality-tools-episode-1

Credits

• Host -Samantha Pearl
• ​Host- Arly Streed
• ​Host - Emily Pearl Reist
• ​Producer -Thomas Streed

Welcome to “How to Handyma’am”, where we educate and entertain with our experience as three women in the home remodeling business. We’ve learned everything the hardest possible way – so you don’t have to!

We envision a community of women who are empowered to take care of the daily needs of their lives independently, with confidence and knowledge.

That goes for how you care for your home, what you do with your career, and who you trust to provide services in your home!