SHOW NOTES:

On today’s show, get festive with front door decorating tips that make a great first impression, learn how to properly clean and disinfect your home to keep germs at bay, and discover an innovative way to stop a running toilet from wasting water. Don’t miss these and other quick and impactful home improvement ideas as we answer questions from DIY callers!

- Holiday Décor: Welcome guests to your home with door décor to sleigh the holiday season.

- Cleaning: Wipe out germs with these cleaning tips for sanitary surfaces.

- Running Toilet: This innovative toilet flapper flushes away water waste from a leaky toilet.

Q & A:

- Wallpaper Removal: Thomas needs advice for removing wallpaper. It’s a lot of work, but we’ve got tips for using a paper tiger tool, wallpaper paste remover, or a wallpaper steamer.

- Caulk: Can caulk be applied in colder temperatures? Silicone caulk could work with no expansion issues, but it may not flow as freely and will be harder to level out.

- Painting Paneling: Dena wants to cover dark wood paneling in every room. We recommend cleaning, lightly sanding, and priming the surface before painting over it.

- Faucets: Is it a good idea to open faucet valves all the way before reducing the flow? Rich learns it’s not necessary with new ceramic faucet valves that won’t wear out.

- Insulation: It’s always colder or hotter upstairs in Linda’s home. We suggest adding blown-in insulation, ensuring baffles are in place, and covering the whole house fan in winter to prevent heat loss.

- Shower Odor: A sour smell is coming from the shower drain. Heidi should scrub it with Borox or oxygenated bleach and install a timer or humidistat on the bathroom vent fan.

- Old Windows: Don gets advice for using a heat gun or steamer to carefully warm and remove old putty from a historic poured glass window that needs to be reglazed.

- Wood Siding: Can Sherry install redwood siding over the flat plywood siding? It’s easy to do by applying tar paper first and attaching the new siding right over it.

- Concrete Countertop: Lane is thinking of creating an affordable concrete countertop. It’s a lot of work, but good prep and a strong building form are key.

- Bathroom Floor: Mark wants to run heated bathroom flooring off a gas water heater, but it’s not cost-effective due to the piping needed and the boiler not heating well enough.

ASK A QUESTION:

Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.

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Introducing KATHRYN HAHN — on improvising in “Step Brothers” and Patti Lupone voice memos from Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

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"Agatha All Along” star Kathryn Hahn joins the show. Over stuffed grape leaves and shawarma rubbed oyster mushrooms, Hahn tells me how her career has climbed after 40 (dubbed her “Hahnissance”), the amazing moments she improvised in “Step Brothers” and we retell our pilates meet-cute. This episode was recorded at Mazal in Lincoln Heights, CA.

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

SHOW NOTES:

On today’s episode, we’ll reveal the top 5 remodeling mistakes to avoid, share tips for choosing a safe and efficient space heater, and teach you how to spot a fresh Christmas tree. Plus, listen in for expert answers to more DIY home improvement questions from callers like you!

- Remodeling: Avoid renovation regrets caused by these top 5 home remodeling mistakes.

- Space Heaters: Warm up wisely by choosing a safe and efficient space heater.

- Christmas Trees: Get tree-mendous tips for finding the freshest live Christmas tree.

Q & A:

- Wood Stove Safety: Will a wood stove harm the electrical wiring behind it? Melina must install a heat shield and/or put the stove 3 feet from the wall to avoid a fire hazard.

- Shower Remodel: Jim wants to replace his shower. We’ll discuss different budget options, from affordable and easy liners to a complete renovation with a shower kit.

- Flooring: What kind of backer board should Steve use under the new floor tile? His subfloor is pretty solid, so a ¼-inch backer board should be fine.

- Windows: Some of Donna’s old double-pane windows don’t open or close. It’s possible to repair them if she can find the parts, but it would be better to replace the windows.

- HVAC: Lou’s hot water HVAC system is not heating the second floor. An HVAC professional can do diagnostics to look for an obstruction or faulty valve.

- Ventilation and Insulation: Christine gets answers to several questions about insulating and ventilating her garage and the use of ridge vents and soffit vents.

- Bathtub: Can you remove an old bathtub and replace it with a walk-in shower? It can be done, but Jeff should consider his home’s resale value if there are no other tubs.

- Wood Countertop: Is a wood countertop a good, easy option for Ann’s under-mount kitchen sink? Unfortunately, wood is a lot of work to finish and maintain.

ASK A QUESTION:

Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.

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Introducing Teen Witch from Magic in the United States.

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Sabrina, Willow, Thomasin, Queenie – many of us have a favorite teen witch from film or television. The teenage witch archetype has changed over the decades, from a silly materialist bobby soxer, to a raging force of rebellious autonomy. But until very recently, the teen witch has almost always been presented as middle-class, female, and white. And while media depictions of witches have inspired Seekers of the magical and sorcerous – the world of actual teen witches is still very much shrouded in mystery. Featuring Miranda Corcoran, Addy Ebrahimy, Heather Greene, and Susan Ridgely.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

SHOW NOTES:

In this episode, we’re simplifying window shopping with tips for reading energy labels, sharing a weekend-friendly solution for sleek granite-look countertops, and helping you safely deck the halls for the holidays. Tune in to The Money Pit to hear expert advice and answers to your DIY dilemmas!

- New Windows: Window buying is made clear as glass with these tips for decoding window energy labels.

- Stone Countertops: Give your countertops a sleek and stunning granite finish with an easy DIY kit.

- Holiday Lighting: Twinkle without trouble by taking the right precautions for holiday lighting.

Q & A:

- Wallpaper: Wallpaper seams keep curling up on one wall, but Nora can try using a seam repair adhesive product that gets good reviews.

- Distressed Wood: Cliff is making picture frames and wants to make the barn wood look old. We’ve got tips for beating up the wood before staining the surface.

- Deck Boards: There is no space between Cindy’s porch deck boards, making water pool and freeze. It’s easy to fix by using a circular saw to cut a small seam between the boards.

- Closet Space: Matt wants to change the opening of a narrow closet from the short wall to the long wall. We recommend building a temporary load-bearing wall while he does the work.

- Cleaning Grout: How should Lisa clean the grout of her porcelain floor tiles in high-traffic areas? A grout stripper would be stronger than a grout cleaner.

- Floor Stain: A dark spray paint can leaked on Tiffany’s laminate floor! She should carefully use acetone nail polish remover, which won’t remove the floor’s durable finish.

- Insulation: Georgianne’s bedrooms with outside walls get very cold. We offer ideas for using a clock thermostat, insulating the attic, and sealing drafty windows and outlets.

- Countertops: Mark needs ideas for making a dark Formica countertop lighter. We recommend a Daich Coatings kit that offers the perfect solution for a DIY countertop.

ASK A QUESTION:

Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.

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Introducing What’s Next for Syria? from Pod Save the World.

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Tommy and Ben discuss the latest developments in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime, including the debate in Washington and European capitals about whether to talk with the new Syrian government, remove sanctions, or remove Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham’s terrorist designation. They also cover Trump’s trip to France and meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump’s loyalty test for those seeking national security jobs in his new administration, whether South Korea’s president will be impeached after declaring martial law, the collapse of the French government, a court order canceling Romania’s election results, and the corruption trials of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Then Ben speaks to Dareen Khalifa, Senior Advisor at the International Crisis Group, about what’s next for Syria and her insights into rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. 

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

SHOW NOTES:

Today, we’ll show you how to store leftover paint properly and put it to good use. If you’re planning to sell your home, find out what kitchen mistakes could scare off buyers. Plus, we’re breaking down whether extended warranties are worth the price. Tune in for DIY tips, tricks, and answers to your home improvement questions!

- Warranties: Are extended warranties worthwhile or worthless? Find out when to buy and when to pass.

- Leftover Paint: Get fresh looks from old cans with tips for storing and using leftover paint.

- Home Selling: Don’t let these stale kitchen mistakes cook your home sale.

Q & A:

- Countertops: Cheryl needs ideas for resurfacing plywood countertops. Laminate or tile may be the quickest, easiest, and most affordable options.

- Flooring: Mike wants to replace the old kitchen vinyl floor with tile, but laminate flooring is a better choice that would take less room on top of the existing floor.

- Leaking Roof: The corrugated metal roof keeps leaking. Cindy gets advice for adding a second layer of roof with an ice and water shield in between or replacing the entire roof.

- Real Estate: Marilyn’s military family is moving again and she has questions about real estate. We discuss the pros and cons of buying, renting, and property taxes.

- Energy Savings: Will drop ceilings improve the heating efficiency in Cary’s home that’s powered off the grid? Yes, and adding insulation above it will make a huge difference.

- Brick Mortar: Mortar is coming out from various places around the brick. Barbara should hire a professional mason with the right skills to repoint the mortar.

- Insulation: There’s very little access for Dan to insulate under the floor of the back porch. He may be able to add spray foam insulation or dig out a crawlspace.

- Igloo: Lonnie is thinking of buying a concrete domed building, but needs suggestions on how to manage moisture and design a professional HVAC system.

ASK A QUESTION:

Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.

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Introducing Breaking: Assad Regime Falls from Pod Save the World.

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Tommy and Ben discuss the breaking news that Bashar al-Assad has fled Syria after rebel factions took over Damascus in a stunning sweep after 13 years of Civil War. They talk about the speed with which it all happened, what could come next as Syrians decide their own fate after decades of dictatorship, and how the events will affect US policy. 

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

SHOW NOTES:

In this show, learn how to safeguard your plumbing from a winter freeze. Then, find out how the EPA’s new tool can prove energy-saving payoffs. Plus, we’ve got easy solutions for tough-to-clean tile floors. Have a project in mind? Listen in for answers to all your home improvement questions!

- Frozen Pipes: Freeze out frozen pipe disasters by protecting your plumbing this winter.

- Saving Energy: Power up with a new EPA program that boosts your home energy saving IQ.

- Floor Cleaning: Get expert grime-fighter tips for cleaning tough stains from tile floors.

Q & A:

- Toilet Valves: Tom wants to change the shut-off valves on his toilets. We offer tips for trimming back the pipe for a clean cut before slipping on a new compression valve.

- Cabinet Repair: Laurie’s kitchen cabinets got damaged when the floors were refinished. Remixing the paint and carefully touching up only the dinged areas will help.

- Plumbing: The bathroom pipes started vibrating after the tub was replaced. Crystal learns that the pipe brackets may not have been secured well enough.

- Outdoor Fountain: The bowel of Jack’s outdoor fountain is porous and leaking. We suggest draining and drying it well, then applying an epoxy compound to seal it.

- Snow on Roof: When snow accumulates on Terry’s glass sunroof, it slides off in sheets. She should call the manufacturer to see about adding ice guard brackets.

- Security: Robert’s property keeps getting broken into over and over! We discuss installing LED motion sensor lights and a camera system with a monitoring service.

- Uneven Floor: Deb’s floor is uneven and the stairs are twisting. It would be easier for her to adjust the staircase than to rebuild the floor.

- Insulation: Is spray foam insulation a good option to use above a basement drop ceiling? Pete wouldn’t have access to any pipes, so thermal fiber or fiberglass insulation are better choices.

ASK A QUESTION:

Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.

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Introducing An AI Advantage for the US Open from Smart Talks with IBM.

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As AI technology progresses, its impact on our daily lives—including how we consume our favorite sports— will grow alongside it. In this episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Jacob Goldstein, host of Pushkin’s own What’s Your Problem?, sat down with Brian Ryerson, Senior Director of Digital Strategy at the US Tennis Association. They discuss the impact of data on the fan experience, the role that storytelling plays in sports, and how AI has unlocked innovative features, such as AI Commentary and Match Reports. 

This is a paid advertisement from IBM. The conversations on this podcast don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies or opinions.

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].