Tiny House Conversations

#068 - Today I'm sharing an episode with Ethan Waldman from the Tiny House Lifestyle podcast who interviews me about my tiny house journey and "how to build a health-conscious tiny home."

Here's the write-up from the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast:

Today, we have a very special guest, Lucy Lich, joining us from the South Coast of New South Wales Australia. Lucy is not only a dedicated tiny house dweller, but also a yoga teacher, wellness enthusiast, and the host of the Tiny House Conversations podcast.

Over the next hour, we'll dive into how living tiny has profoundly integrated with her values of minimalism, health and environmental consciousness. Lucy will share her personal journey into tiny living, her insights on designing for health and minimizing environmental impacts, and how her experiences have shaped her podcast.

Join us as we explore the unique challenges and joys of tiny living with an expert who lives and breathes this lifestyle every day.

In This Episode:

• 🏡 Tiny House Customization: Lucy hired builders open to unique material customization, accommodating her health-centric needs in tiny house construction.
• 💡 Health-Oriented Lighting: The story behind trading standard bulbs with amber and red to mimic natural sunlight, promoting better sleep and relaxation.
• 🌿 Electromagnetic Sensitivity: Extra measures like non-wireless tech and special electrical wiring incorporated into the design to reduce electromagnetic fields.
• 💧 Natural Living Approach: Features like a composting toilet, rainwater tank, and solar setup installed to enhance sustainable living.
• 🤍 Mindfulness and Intentionality: Lucy's philosophy of intentionality and mindfulness permeates her tiny house living approach, focusing on eco-friendliness and connection with nature.

Find out more about the podcast and get the episode show notes & links here:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/068

You can follow Ethan’s tiny adventures here:

W: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ethanwaldman/
Tiny House Decisions: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/tiny-house-decisions/


You can follow my tiny adventures here:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tinyhouseconversations
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/tinyhouseconversations


Tiny and Healthy Living Products and Services

Sky Energy - Skybox and Skybox Mini - Off-grid solar systems for tiny homes.

• Link: https://skyenergy.com.au/skybox/
• Discount code: For $200 off your custom Skybox or Skybox Mini, call Sky Energy and ask for Steve. Let him know Lucy from Tiny House Conversations sent you.

For more discounts on Tiny and Healthy Living products and services, you can head to:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/resources/

Support the show

#067 - Today is another healthy tiny home episode with Building Biologist, Michelle Diener from Home-Free Building Biology where we explore all about different chemicals that may be found in our homes, why they’re problematic for our health, common sources, and examples of low-tox healthy swap options.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• All about plastics
• Rainwater tanks, which type of material is the safest, healthiest option, and the importance of having a water filter
• Cooking utensils, kitchen equipment, and food storage
• Mattresses and other furniture like couches / lounges / sofas
• Personal care, cleaning and gardening products
• Dust, why it’s a health concern and the best way to clean it… and more.

Find out more about the podcast and get the episode show notes & links here:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/067


You can follow Michelle here:

• W: https://homefreebuildingbiology.com/ 
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/home.free.building.biology/ 
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/homefreebuildingbiology
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lowtoxmastery 
• LT: https://michelle-diener.mykajabi.com/linkinbio 
• 5 Simple Steps to a Healthier Home & Body

You can follow my tiny adventures here:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tinyhouseconversations
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/tinyhouseconversations

Tiny and Healthy Living Products and Services

Sky Energy - Skybox and Skybox Mini - Off-grid solar systems for tiny homes.

• Link: https://skyenergy.com.au/skybox/
• Discount code: For $200 off your custom Skybox or Skybox Mini, call Sky Energy and ask for Steve. Let him know Lucy from Tiny House Conversations sent you.

For more discounts on Tiny and Healthy Living products and services, you can head to:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/resources/

Support the show

#066 - Ethan Waldman is a tiny house author, speaker, and teacher. He built his own tiny house on wheels in 2012, and has been passionately helping future tiny house dwellers on their own journeys ever since. 

Ethan’s guide, Tiny House Decisions, has helped thousands of readers answer the big questions about tiny houses and plan each system in their future home.

He’s also the creator and host of the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast, a show that brings you conversations with tiny house luminaries, builders, and DIYers.

Ethan was on the show back in episode #25 talking about Tiny House Decisions, and I’ve asked him to come back on the show to share about how he no longer lives full-time in his tiny and instead has it for rent on Airbnb.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• How Ethan’s situation changed from living long-term in his DIY tiny home to turning it into an Airbnb
• The arrangement that Ethan has with the landowner where his tiny house Airbnb is parked
• The composting toilet situation and how it has worked out so far
• What he would do differently if he were to have built his tiny home for the purpose of short-term rentals
• Some stories of a few mishaps that have occurred during the (almost 2 years) of operating the Airbnb… and more.

Find out more about the podcast and get the episode show notes & links here:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/066


You can follow Ethan’s tiny adventures here:

W: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ethanwaldman/ 
Tiny House Decisions: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/tiny-house-decisions/


You can follow my tiny adventures here:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tinyhouseconversations
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/tinyhouseconversations

Tiny and Healthy Living Products and Services

Sky Energy - Skybox and Skybox Mini - Off-grid solar systems for tiny homes.

• Link: https://skyenergy.com.au/skybox/
• Discount code: For $200 off your custom Skybox or Skybox Mini, call Sky Energy and ask for Steve. Let him know Lucy from Tiny House Conversations sent you.

For more discounts on Tiny and Healthy Living products and services, you can head to:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/resources/

Support the show

#065 - How can you decide which tiny house toilet and greywater system is right for YOU?

Anthony Smith is an Environmental Engineer and the Founder & Director of Water Wally. He’s also a Wastewater Management Specialist for the Australian Tiny House Association.

This is the second time Anthony has been on the show and this time we dive deeper into what to consider, how to think about and approach finding the options for tiny house toilets, greywater systems, and wastewater management for your context.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• The importance of assessing your situation, needs and variables before landing on any solution
• The 3 areas to consider when navigating what kind of tiny toilet or greywater system is right for you
• The potential limitations and impacts of a “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to tiny house builders offering off-grid wastewater management packages
• In what situations an absorption trench for greywater management may NOT be the best option
• The current situation with wastewater management regulations… and lots more!

Find out more about the podcast and get the episode show notes & links here:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/065

You can follow Anthony here:
W: www.waterwally.com.au
IG: https://www.instagram.com/waterwally/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/waterwally/
YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwfnf0gIacqTswgxKUzkG2A

You can follow my tiny adventures here:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tinyhouseconversations
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/tinyhouseconversations

Tiny and Healthy Living Products and Services

Sky Energy - Skybox and Skybox Mini - Off-grid solar systems for tiny homes.

• Link: https://skyenergy.com.au/skybox/
• Discount code: For $200 off your custom Skybox or Skybox Mini, call Sky Energy and ask for Steve. Let him know Lucy from Tiny House Conversations sent you.

For more discounts on Tiny and Healthy Living products and services, you can head to:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/resources/

Support the show

#064 - Vicki Sinclair is a tiny houser who lives on the Sunshine Coast of QLD. Vicki’s tiny house is one of my favourite tiny’s I’ve ever seen.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Vicki’s story of losing her home and almost everything she owned in an earthquake in New Zealand to how she transitioned into tiny house living and turned her life around
• The must-have features in Vicki’s custom-designed tiny home
• Some tiny mishaps and what Vicki would do differently (it includes a composting toilet)
• How Vicki found her tiny parking space and what it’s like to live in a tiny house community… and lots more!

Find out more about the podcast and get the episode show notes & links here:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/064


You can follow Vicki’s tiny adventures here:
Living Big in a Tiny House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6QD4hk6gz0
IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_opposite_of_chaos/
W: https://theoppositeofchaos.com/ 

You can follow my tiny adventures here:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tinyhouseconversations
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/tinyhouseconversations

Tiny and Healthy Living Products and Services

Sky Energy - Skybox and Skybox Mini - Off-grid solar systems for tiny homes.

• Link: https://skyenergy.com.au/skybox/
• Discount code: For $200 off your custom Skybox or Skybox Mini, call Sky Energy and ask for Steve. Let him know Lucy from Tiny House Conversations sent you.

For more discounts on Tiny and Healthy Living products and services, you can head to:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/resources/

Support the show

#063 - Another Tiny House Conversations episode about reducing electromagnetic fields in your tiny home!

Lyn McLean is the Founder and Managing Director of EMR Australia, Australia’s leading resource for creating EMR-safe homes, businesses, and learning environments. 

Established in 2003, EMR Australia helps Australians, no matter where in Australia they live or work, to understand and reduce their exposure to this Class 2B carcinogenic environmental pollutant.

Lyn McLean is Australia’s foremost expert on understanding and reducing exposure to electromagnetic exposures in homes, businesses and learning environments.

She has been working in this field since 1996 and brings a commitment to helping people and over two decades of experience to her work.

In this conversation we talk about:

• What to consider and ask your tiny house designer, builder. or electrician when electrical wiring a tiny home
• The best way to layout and design a tiny home to minimise EMF exposure
• Hard-wiring your internet in a tiny home
• What to ask a solar company or your tiny house builder when it comes to off-grid solar system and reducing EMF’s
• Some health effects of EMF exposure
• Industry-funded science around EMF’s and what the overall science ACTUALLY says about the damaging health effects of EMF’s… and lots more!

Find out more about the podcast and get the episode show notes & links here:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/063


You can follow Lyn and EMR Australia here:

• W: https://emraustralia.com.au/ 
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/EMRAustralia
• EMR Australia Blog with science around health effects of electromagnetic radiation: https://emraustralia.com.au/blogs/news-1

You can follow my tiny adventures here:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tinyhouseconversations
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/tinyhouseconversations

Tiny and Healthy Living Products and Services

Sky Energy - Skybox and Skybox Mini - Off-grid solar systems for tiny homes.

• Link: https://skyenergy.com.au/skybox/
• Discount code: For $200 off your custom Skybox or Skybox Mini, call Sky Energy and ask for Steve. Let him know Lucy from Tiny House Conversations sent you.

For more discounts on Tiny and Healthy Living products and services, you can head to:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/resources/

Support the show

#062 - Phae Barrett is a Co-Founder and Co-Organiser of the Tiny Homes Expo, Australia’s largest Tiny House events. 

Want to live in a tiny home? Do you have spare space on your land for a tiny house tenant?  Then get yourself to an Expo! 

You can walk through many different tiny homes, meet tiny house builders and other aligning businesses, and learn lots about tiny house living through the experienced speakers and experts in the Australian tiny house space.

In this conversation we talked about:

• The evolution of the Tiny Homes Expo from the first show until now
• Phae’s view on why it’s so complicated and a long process for tiny houses on wheels to have clear guidelines and regulations across the board
• Lots and lots of council talk including some behind-the-scenes that Phae shares about her dealings with some councils
• How you can advocate for tiny homes in your local area and community
• Some positive stories about people living in tiny homes and how it has literally changed their lives

Find out more about the podcast and get the episode show notes & links here:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/062


You can follow Tiny Homes Expo’s here:

W: https://tinyhomesexpo.com.au/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tinyhomeexpo/ 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/tinyhomeexpo 

You can follow my tiny adventures here:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tinyhouseconversations
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/tinyhouseconversations

Tiny and Healthy Living Products and Services

Block Blue Light - Specialty light bulbs, downlights, sleep lamps, blue-blocking glasses and more, to reduce artificial light exposure and support healthy sleep.

• Link: https://tinyhouseconversations.com/bluelight
• Discount code: thcpodcast for 10% off your order

Tiny Easy - 3D Tiny House Designer - The first online design tool that lets you design your tiny house without needing any technical or design knowledge!

• Link: https://tinyhouseconversations.com/tinyeasydesigner
• Discount code: LUCY75 for 75% off the first month of the Premium version.

Sky Energy - Skybox and Skybox Mini - Off-grid solar systems for tiny homes.

• Link: https://skyenergy.com.au/skybox/
• Discount code: For $200 off your custom Skybox or Skybox Mini, call Sky Energy and ask for Steve. Let him know Lucy from Tiny House Conversations sent you.

For more discounts on Tiny and Healthy Living products and services, you can head to:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/resources/

Support the show

#061 - Paul Dolphin is a sustainable building designer and Director of PdD Building Design, who are a dedicated team of building designers specialising in creating liveable, low-energy homes and are based on the beautiful NSW South Coast.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• The 3 pillars to consider when assessing sustainability
• About embodied energy, thermal mass, insulation, ventilation and solar passive design
• Designing a tiny home with hazards and bushfire principles in mind
• Paul’s experience of dealing with councils for dwelling approval… and lots more!

Find out more about the podcast and get the episode show notes & links here:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/061

You can follow Paul and PDd Building Design here:

• W: https://www.pddbuildingdesign.com.au/  
• Webinar: https://www.pddbuildingdesign.com.au/eco-house-webinar 

You can follow my tiny adventures here:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tinyhouseconversations
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/tinyhouseconversations

Tiny and Healthy Living Products and Services

Block Blue Light - Specialty light bulbs, downlights, sleep lamps, blue-blocking glasses and more, to reduce artificial light exposure and support healthy sleep.

• Link: https://tinyhouseconversations.com/bluelight
• Discount code: thcpodcast for 10% off your order

Tiny Easy - 3D Tiny House Designer - The first online design tool that lets you design your tiny house without needing any technical or design knowledge!

• Link: https://tinyhouseconversations.com/tinyeasydesigner
• Discount code: LUCY75 for 75% off the first month of the Premium version.

Sky Energy - Skybox and Skybox Mini - Off-grid solar systems for tiny homes.

• Link: https://skyenergy.com.au/skybox/
• Discount code: For $200 off your custom Skybox or Skybox Mini, call Sky Energy and ask for Steve. Let him know Lucy from Tiny House Conversations sent you.

For more discounts on Tiny and Healthy Living products and services, you can head to:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/resources/

Support the show

#060 - One of the ways Treehab Tiny Houses stands out is with their approach to sustainability. 

Riley Skene is the Managing Director of Treehab Tiny Houses, who are based in Victoria. 

Over the past five years, Treehab has helped many Australians realise their tiny house dream. 

They work hard to ensure your tiny house is built to the highest standards and provide you with a safe, secure foundation to live your tiny dream.

They are passionate about design, innovation, and most importantly sustainability.

In this conversation we talk about:

• What makes Treehab unique and how they approach innovation, sustainability, and environmentally sound practices
• The shift from Airbnb to long-term living with tiny homes
• The different demographics they build tiny homes for
• Their tiny house models, tiny home kits for DIYers, and how they customise their off-grid solutions according to your needs…and lots more!

Find out more about the podcast and get the episode show notes & links here:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/060

You can follow Riley & Treehab’s tiny adventures here:

W: https://www.treehab.com.au/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/treehabtinyhouses/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Treehabtinyhouse

You can follow my tiny adventures here:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tinyhouseconversations
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/tinyhouseconversations

Tiny and Healthy Living Products and Services

Block Blue Light - Specialty light bulbs, downlights, sleep lamps, blue-blocking glasses and more, to reduce artificial light exposure and support healthy sleep.

• Link: https://tinyhouseconversations.com/bluelight
• Discount code: thcpodcast for 10% off your order

Tiny Easy - 3D Tiny House Designer - The first online design tool that lets you design your tiny house without needing any technical or design knowledge!

• Link: https://tinyhouseconversations.com/tinyeasydesigner
• Discount code: LUCY75 for 75% off the first month of the Premium version.

Sky Energy - Skybox and Skybox Mini - Off-grid solar systems for tiny homes.

• Link: https://skyenergy.com.au/skybox/
• Discount code: For $200 off your custom Skybox or Skybox Mini, call Sky Energy and ask for Steve. Let him know Lucy from Tiny House Conversations sent you.

For more discounts on Tiny and Healthy Living products and services, you can head to:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/resources/

Support the show

#059 - Is dating challenging when living in a tiny home? What are some of the realities of tiny house living? What's it REALLY like?

From personal experience, it's amazing in so many ways (most of the time). However, it's not always rainbows and butterflies - there are plenty of interesting, and sometimes challenging or inconvenient realities that you only get to discover when living in a tiny home. 

Marie Beringer is a tiny houser originally from France, and is living in Auckland, New Zealand. Marie built her tiny house 5 years ago and loved it so much that she changed her career and recently became a fully qualified carpenter. 

She’s currently building a shepherd hut with her best friend and documenting every step on her YouTube channel, giving building tips and sharing the failures as well.

The goal is for people to see that woodwork/building is not that hard and everyone can give it a crack.

Marie was on the show back in episode 24 and her DIY story is inspiring. I’ve asked her to come back on the show for some real talk, and share more about her experiences with some of the realities of tiny house living.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• Realities of living in a small space
• What it’s REALLY like to manage your resources, like power, water, and toilets
• Challenges when it comes to growing food
• Dating when living in a tiny home
• All about Marie’s creative building projects… and lots more.

Find out more about the podcast and get the episode show notes & links here:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/059

You can follow Marie’s tiny adventures here:

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@La.Fabrick/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/la.fabrick/

You can follow my tiny adventures here:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tinyhouseconversations
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/tinyhouseconversations


Tiny and Healthy Living Products and Services

Block Blue Light - Specialty light bulbs, downlights, sleep lamps, blue-blocking glasses and more, to reduce artificial light exposure and support healthy sleep.

• Link: https://tinyhouseconversations.com/bluelight
• Discount code: thcpodcast for 10% off your order

Tiny Easy - 3D Tiny House Designer - The first online design tool that lets you design your tiny house without needing any technical or design knowledge.

• Link: https://tinyhouseconversations.com/tinyeasydesigner
• Discount code: LUCY75 for 75% off the first month of the Premium version.

Sky Energy - Skybox and Skybox Mini - Off-grid solar systems for tiny homes.

• Link: https://skyenergy.com.au/skybox/
• Discount code: For $200 off your custom Skybox or Skybox Mini, call Sky Energy and ask for Steve. Let him know Lucy from Tiny House Conversations sent you.

For more discounts on Tiny and Healthy Living products and services:

https://tinyhouseconversations.com/resources/

Support the show