Today's episode is packed with practical tips and inspiring insights on decluttering and organizing your home. Joining me is renowned home organizing expert and bestselling author, Shira Gill. With 15 years of experience, Shira has developed a straightforward 4-step organizing process that can transform any space, no matter its size. In our conversation, we delve into the importance of reducing volume before organizing and how to tackle even the tiniest of spaces without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, Shira shares her wisdom on leading a minimalist lifestyle and how intentional living can create freedom and simplicity in all areas of your life. Stick around to learn Shira's proven 4-step process that you can start using today to declutter and organize your space like a professional.

In This Episode:

• 🛒 Ease of Shopping & Psychology: The simplicity of online shopping as temporary relief for anxiety.
• 📚 New Book Preview: Shira’s book "Lifestyle" expands minimalism across life areas.
• ✨ Personal Experience & Approach: Simplifying life; focus on quality projects and relationships.
• 🔍 Life Audit Process: Evaluating life satisfaction, setting priorities, minimum standards.
• ❌ Saying No & Minimalist Mindset: Declining opportunities to maintain key goals and focus.
• 📋 Organizational Tools: Batching tasks to increase efficiency and free time.
• ❤️ Dealing with People-Pleasing: Scripts for saying no, maintaining relationships.
• 🏡 Clutter & Organization: Shira's four-step process for decluttering and organizing spaces.
• 🌍 Cultural Differences: Less clutter and consumption observed outside Western cultures.

Visit the website for the full show notes, photos, and transcript.

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Dedria Kolb is a developer who's making waves in the housing industry with her innovative, community-focused projects. Dedria is the owner and cofounder of Ideal Ridge Ventures, and her latest endeavor, Poplar Creek, is the first tiny home development in Rutherford County, North Carolina. We'll be diving into how she's tackling affordable housing through sustainability, community interaction, and tiny homes. If you're considering a midlife career change or interested in real estate development for tiny homes, you won't want to miss Dedria's valuable insights and advice. Tune in to hear how Deidra left her 14-year corporate law career without a plan and transformed herself into a successful tiny house community developer.

In This Episode:

• 🌳 Intentional Community Living: Dedria supports communal engagement through sustainable activities like gardening.
• 💬 Community Communication: Residents have access to a private Facebook group to keep in touch with each other.
• 🤝 Community Facilitation: Dedria assists residents' ideas for the community without imposing rules.
• 🏡 Ideal Ridge Ventures' Mission: Focus on community, sustainability, affordability.
• 🌿 Sustainability Principles: Emphasize eco-friendly, cost-effective tiny home living.
• 🏗 Phase 2 Development: The next phase is planned for 2025; adding 20 home sites and a dog park.
• 📜 Important Certifications: NOAH and RVIA for tiny home zoning and insurance.
• ⚖ Midlife Career Change: Dedria advocates embracing new career opportunities.

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I am thrilled to welcome back a true advocate for the tiny house movement, Lindsay Wood. In this episode, we delve into the opportunities and challenges of living small in California compared to other states, exploring everything from zoning issues to the emerging interest in disaster relief applications for tiny homes. Lindsay shares her insights on finding and creating supportive communities, as well as the intrinsic flexibility and resale potential of tiny homes. We also discuss her project in Daly City aimed at providing urban experiences for potential tiny home enthusiasts. Join us as we uncover valuable tips, resources, and inspiration to help you navigate your own tiny living journey.

In this episode:

• 🏡 Legal Restrictions in Tiny Living: Tiny living enthusiasts can face legal challenges, necessitating alternatives like modular homes.
• 🚧 Modular vs. Tiny Homes: Modular constructions, less restrictive legally, often require cranes for relocation.
• 💸 Cost and Financing: Modular homes range $79K-$150K, with financing options like equity share.
• 📏 Flexibility and Size: Modular homes offer larger sizes compared to tiny homes on wheels.
• 🛠️ Panelized Systems: Systems like Studio Shed require more on-site labor, increasing costs.
• 🏘️ Zoning Challenges: Navigating local zoning is crucial for setting up tiny/modular homes.
• 🤝 Community and Connectivity: Emphasis on privacy, connection, and proximity within families and communities.
• 🌎 Nationwide Services: Lindsay’s Go Tiny Academy offers services, focusing on California.
• 🔀 Adaptability and Flexibility: Rotating living arrangements highlight modular homes' adaptability for changing needs.

For complete show notes, transcript and images, visit the show notes page!

Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. It comes in 3 different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. And if you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, like how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what construction technique are you gonna use, like SIPs or stick framing or steel framing. Tiny House Decisions will take you through all these processes systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now, I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions. For listeners of the show, you can head over to thetinyhouse.net/thd to learn more, and use the coupon code "tiny" at checkout for 20% off any package. 

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Today, I have a returning guest who continuously brings valuable insights into the tiny house movement, Jewel Pearson. Jewel is a tiny house educator, advocate, and community leader with nearly a decade of experience living in her self designed tiny home. She's back to talk about her latest venture, the Cooperative Communities app, which aims to make tiny house parking more accessible and safer, especially for black and brown tiny house owners. We'll delve into her motivation behind creating the app, its unique features, and how it can foster cooperative land purchasing and community building. Plus, you'll hear about the financial benefits for landowners and how this initiative could expand the tiny house movement's reach.

In This Episode:

• 🏡 Tiny House Directory: A platform for tiny house listings for sale or for rent.
• 🤝 Community Focus: Promotes a welcoming and safe environment, especially for minorities.
• 🌍 Cooperative Land Buying: Facilitates conversations and collaborations.
• 🌱 Support for Black Farmers: Addresses land retention challenges, promotes tiny house collaborations.
• 📈 Consultation Services: Offers setup resources, encourages independent arrangement management.
• 🌐 Platform Features: Connects users for intentional communities, builders can showcase work.
• 📍Parking Solutions: Aims to solve parking barriers, enhance legal acceptance.

Watch the App Demo

Visit the website for the full show notes, links and resources

Tiny House Decisions is the guide that I wish I had when I was building my tiny house. It comes in 3 different packages to help you on your unique tiny house journey. And if you're struggling to figure out the systems for your tiny house, like how you're going to heat it, how you're going to plumb it, what construction technique are you gonna use, like SIPs or stick framing or steel framing. Tiny House Decisions will take you through all these processes systematically and help you come up with a design that works for you. Right now, I'm offering 20% off any package of Tiny House Decisions. For listeners of the show, you can head over to thetinyhouse.net/thd to learn more, and use the coupon code "tiny" at checkout for 20% off any package. 

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Tracey Dedicatoria’s journey into tiny living began after a 23 year marriage, and her tiny house has been a sanctuary of peace, healing, and financial stability for her over the past 8 years. In this episode, Tracey shares the transformative power of simplifying your life, the unique challenges and discoveries of living off grid, and her advice for those considering tiny living today. We also dive into the evolution of the tiny house market, including the rising costs and how to navigate the financing options. Join us as we explore Tracey's inspiring path to finding peace and strength through tiny living.

In This Episode:

• 🚽 Toilet Options: Challenges and solutions for compost and dry flush toilets.
• 🛠️ Everyday Repairs: Deck building, pest control, and appliance compatibility issues.
• 💧 Water Management: Reverse osmosis filter and efficient water tank refilling.
• ⚡ Power Solutions: Large battery packs, mini-split systems, and a shift from generators.
• 💲 Financial Insights: Costs, financing, and affordability changes in tiny house market.
• 🏠 Design Considerations: Tiny house layouts, accessibility, and aesthetic preferences.
• 📉 Simplified Living: Financial stress relief, easier maintenance, and reduced lifestyle complexity.
• 💡 Practical Advice: Appliance selection, builder recommendations, and customization tips.

For complete transcript, show notes, links and resources visit the website www.thetinyhouse.net/306.

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I am excited to welcome a guest with a powerful and eye opening story about the realities of tiny living. Cheryl, a musician and single mother, joins us to share her journey of creating a custom tiny home designed to support her musical career and her daughter's needs. However, Cheryl's story goes far beyond innovative design solutions.

We'll dive deep into the legal challenges and zoning issues that have plagued Cheryl's tiny house journey, including a harrowing experience with eviction that exposes the vulnerabilities many tiny house dwellers face. Cheryl candidly discusses the shame and secrecy that often surround nontraditional housing choices and how these factors can leave individuals open to exploitation.

Despite facing numerous setbacks, Cheryl's resilience shines as she advocates for the legalization and broader acceptance of tiny homes. Her story serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action for the tiny house community. Join us as we explore Cheryl's journey to find a supportive community, navigate complex legal landscapes, and ultimately transform her living situation.

In This Episode:

• 🚜 Land Stewardship: Cheryl advocates for a stewardship mentality in land management.
• 🏘️ Community Search: She shares her struggle in finding a community that values land stewardship over mere ownership.
• 🎨 Artist Community: Finds a suitable, supportive artistic and organic community.
• 🏡 Tiny House Advocacy: Advocates for the legalization and acceptance of diverse housing options like tiny homes, yurts, and buses to provide affordable living solutions.
• 📈 Housing Market: Highlights the high costs and unaffordability of housing in Toronto, rendering it unattainable for those like her with tiny homes.
• 🎶 Custom Tiny House: Describes her well planned customized tiny home, including a unique hitch extension to create a cello practice room essential for her music career.
• 📝 Ownership Rights: Stresses the importance of legal rights and protections for tiny homes to be considered viable investments for the future.
• 💔 Personal Struggles: Opens up about facing multiple evictions, renovictions, and dealing with the loss of her brother, emphasizing the emotional toll of housing instability.
• 🔍 Legal Battles: Discusses her intention to pursue legal action against an unjust eviction, highlighting the need for legal recourse for tiny home dwellers facing similar challenges.

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Louise Scott is a multifaceted professional organizer, designer and travel enthusiast. She has not only embraced tiny living, but has also helped many transition to a more minimalistic lifestyle through her business, All Things French. We'll dive deep into the challenges and triumphs of living small, the positive impact it has on finances and quality of life and her unique organizational tips to apply to the spaces in your life of all sizes. Plus, we'll explore her passion for French culture and how that's shaping her future business endeavors. Stay tuned as we uncover how tiny house living can truly transform your life.

In This Episode:

• 🏡 Minimalism in Tiny House Living: Insights into decluttering and minimalism benefits.
• 🧹 Organizational Skills: Tips on maintaining order in small spaces.
• 🌿 Indoor-Outdoor Connection: Design elements for seamless outdoor views.
• 💲 Cost-Efficiency: Tiny house costs and financial benefits.
• 📦 Decluttering Tips: Strategies for dealing with memorabilia and sentimental items.
• 💡 Resource-Conscious Living: Growing interest in eco-friendly, low-cost living solutions.
• 🛠 Client Assistance: Providing various organizational services for client needs.
• ⛴ Travel Influence: Traveling with a minimalist lifestyle.
• 📉 Reduced Utility Bills: Financial savings from lower utility costs.
• 🛏 Aging Challenges: Anticipated need for accessibility to loft beds and composting toilets.

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Today, we have a thought-provoking episode featuring Nate Murphy. Nate is an advocate for minimalism, environmental consciousness, and co-living, and he's here to share his insights on how these concepts intersect with van life and tiny house living. We’ll also explore his book "The Ideas That Rule Us," which dives deep into the ideologies shaping our lives and how embracing minimalism can lead to more fulfilling choices. Nate's personal journey and the practical steps he offers for aligning your life with your values are truly inspiring. So, if you've ever felt weighed down by consumerism or are curious about making radical lifestyle changes, this episode is a must-listen. Stay tuned as we uncover the benefits of eco-villages, the freedom of van life, and pathways to a more self-aware and community-focused existence.

In This Episode:

• 🚐 Van Life Simplicity: Highlighting the affordability, simplicity, and freedom compared to traditional city living.
• 🏞️ Digital Nomadism: The shift towards remote work, allowing people to live and work in rural areas with access to high-speed internet.
• 🏡 Property Appreciation: Unlike vans that depreciate, tiny houses can appreciate over time with proper care and maintenance.
• 💸 Unsustainable Property Prices: A critique on the excessive property prices and the notion that houses should serve as living tools, not just financial investments.
• 🌳 Sustainable Living: Nate’s approach to buying a house in Catalonia focuses on long-term sustainable living rather than financial profit.
• 🌐 Contributionism vs. Consumerism: Community and contribution are valued more over ownership and consumerism, promoting a richer sense of worth.
• 🏘️ Eco Villages/Co-Living: Eco villages and co-living spaces enhance the sense of community and mutual dependency, fostering tangible value exchange and improved living environments.
• 💡 Self-Awareness: Nate advises evaluating one’s behavior and time use to align actions with true values, thereby increasing self-awareness and openness.
• 🌍 Capitalism and Sustainability: A call for a shift towards a sustainable version of capitalism that includes fairness and care.

This Week's Sponsor:
This Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast is sponsored by PrecisionTemp hot water heaters. Right now, PrecisionTemp is offering $50 off their amazing hot water heaters if you use the code THLP at checkout. Head over to PrecisionTemp at precisiontemp.com and use the coupon code THLP for $50 off. Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show.

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Today's episode is a special one, several years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing John Wells, a true pioneer in the tiny house movement. John first caught my attention through his insightful comments on my Facebook posts about building my own tiny house. As I dug deeper into his profile, I realized he was the real deal - someone who had fully embraced the off-grid, minimalist lifestyle.

While we initially decided not to release our conversation, recent events have changed my perspective. Sadly, I learned of John's passing through this month's Tiny House Magazine, where he was mentioned as an early influence for Andrew and Laura Lavoie. This news prompted me to revisit our interview, and I was struck by how valuable and inspiring our discussion truly was.

In this episode, we'll explore John's remarkable journey from living in a 2800 square foot house to embracing life in a 128 square foot tiny home on the remote Terlingua Ranch in Southwest Texas. John shares practical steps he took to make this dramatic transformation, offering a wealth of tips for anyone interested in off-grid living. 

Throughout our conversation, John's unique approach to simple living and his authentic personality shine through, providing invaluable insights for those considering a similar lifestyle change. Though recorded a while ago, John's wisdom remains as relevant and thought-provoking as ever.

In This Episode:

• 🏠 The specifics of John's off-grid home, including portable AC, propane cooking, and preference for solar power over wind energy.
• 🌞 Details of John's solar power system, with 1200 watts providing electricity and the benefits it brings to his off-grid living.
• 🚑  A recount of his compound fracture, hospital stay, and long recovery period in a wheelchair that interrupted his off-grid activities.
• 💡 Tips for living off-grid, such as experimenting with modular systems and the importance of self-sufficiency.
• 🐕 John's preference for animal interactions over human companionship and his hermit lifestyle, despite being active online.
• ✉️ Various income sources like odd jobs, selling merchandise, and custom silver items; his grassland and minimal cost living.
• 🏚️ John's process in building a tiny house for himself and for a friend, utilizing his carpentry skills and past experiences.
• 🍽️ Using a solar oven, shopping at remote grocery stores, and experimenting with food delivery during recovery.
• 💰 Monthly expenses, property taxes, and how moving to Texas drastically reduced his living costs.
• 🎥 Insights into his blog, YouTube channel, and why he shares his off-grid lifestyle online, turning his experiences into engaging content.

Visit the website for full show notes, photos, links and resources.

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Over the past decade, Jenna has expanded her influence through her amazingly popular YouTube channel, Tiny House Giant Journey, which showcases unique tiny house tours and stories. We'll discuss the challenges of maintaining and repairing a tiny house, especially when it's used primarily as a vacation rental, but it wasn't built as one initially. Jenna will also share the incredible stories behind some of the most remarkable tiny houses she has encountered, including one nestled in an animal sanctuary. Whether you're a tiny house veteran or just curious, you'll find plenty of inspiration and practical insights in today's episode.

In This Episode:

• 🏡 Tiny House Maintenance: Jenna shares challenges, including moving and flooring issues.
• 🚗 Tiny House Transportation: Costs and difficulties of moving and parking tiny homes.
• 👪 Minimalism with Family: Struggling to accommodate a growing family and maintain minimalism.
• 🚚 Trends in Tiny Homes: Larger homes and rise of tiny house villages.
• 🎥 Tiny House Stories: Jenna's YouTube content and focus on personal stories.
• ✨ Unique Living Spaces: Her interest in unique tiny homes like Vardo wagon.
• 📈 Popularity of Tiny Houses: Increased acceptance and legal parking options.

This Week's Sponsor:
This Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast is sponsored by PrecisionTemp hot water heaters. Right now, PrecisionTemp is offering $50 off their amazing hot water heaters if you use the code THLP at checkout. Head over to PrecisionTemp at precisiontemp.com and use the coupon code THLP for $50 off. Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show.

Visit the website for full transcript, photos, links and resources from this episode.

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