Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast

Malissa and Chris Tack did one of the first tiny house builds to be fully documented in photographs every day. I remember poring through their daily time-lapses to figure out how they did certain things. Their beautiful design included dormers in the loft, which inspired my tiny house and countless others. Malissa is here to tell us the story of her tiny house journey and how the house has continued to support their family as it has grown.

In This Episode:

• How the Tiny Tack House came to be
• Having space to offer up to others
• Plans change and tiny houses adapt
• Malissa's systems set-up
• The Tiny Tack House on Airbnb
• What would we do differently?
• Tiny house design and plans

Links and Resources:

• https://www.thetinytackhouse.com/
• Dee Williams
• Stay in the Tiny Tack House
• Tiny House Magazine
• Leave a review

For full show notes, links and photos visit the show notes page: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/malissa-tack/ 

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This episode features Jody Brady. In 2014, after living in a series of traditionally scaled houses, Jody and her husband Bill decided it was time to "right-size" their living space. They designed and built their tiny home in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, and they've been living tiny for two and a half years. 

In this interview, we get into what it’s like to go tiny as a couple at retirement age, but who certainly aren’t “retired” in the traditional sense. We’ll talk about what “rightsizing” is and how you can get rid of things that you no longer need that are standing in your way.

For complete show notes, transcript and images, visit https://www.thetinyhouse.net/jody

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It’s not just about finances. Though many people are drawn to tiny house living for the financial benefits, living tiny has a way of changing the way you look at everything in your life.

Living tiny for 3.5 years has had a lasting impact on my guest, Alek Lisefski. In this conversation, we’ll talk about those changes, plus what Alek learned from having two significant relationships in a tiny house.

For complete show notes, transcript and images, visit https://www.thetinyhouse.net/alek

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This episode features an incredible guest. Joining me is Kai, who's not only living in a house truck but has a wealth of knowledge about the ins and outs of this unique lifestyle. We'll explore Kai's journey, from finding and customizing a commercial truck to navigating the practical challenges of living in her unique tiny home. Kai will share their experiences with insulation, maintenance, and the daily joys and hardships of the tiny life. Get ready to be inspired and informed by Kai's fascinating insights into the world of house trucks and the tiny house movement.

In This Episode:

• DIY Living 🛠️: Living sustainably in a self-built, off-grid house truck
• Tiny House Insulation 🏠: Tales of insulating a homemade house truck
• Off-Grid Heating 🔥: Using diesel and wood for sustainable heat
• Legalities of Mobile Living 🚚: Navigating RV insurance and vehicle classification
• DIY Business 💼: Earning income through social media and sponsorships
• Life in Rural Canada 🌲: Living off-grid and the challenges it brings
• Tiny House Mobility 🚛: The advantages and challenges of moving a tiny house
• Retro Living Inspiration 📚: Drawing inspiration from vintage house truck designs

Links and Resources:

• Builders of the Pacific Coast
• Some Turtles Have Nice Shells
• Rolling Homes
• The Half Acre Homestead
• Roll Your Own
• Lloyd Kahn’s Half-Acre Homestead: Building, Gardening and Getting Started – #130
• Sign up for the Tiny House Newsletter

For complete show notes, transcript and images, visit www.thetinyhouse.net/288 

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Tiffany DaSilva is a passionate real estate investor and loan officer with a love for tiny living. She's here to share her incredible journey of building her own twenty by eight and a half foot handcrafted tiny house while she was still in high school. Tiffany's story is truly inspiring from learning carpentry, plumbing and electrical work to overcoming challenges and societal prejudice as a young female builder. Her perseverance and dedication to tiny living are sure to inspire and educate us all.

In This Episode:

• 🏡 Tiffany discusses the benefits of tiny living such as custom builds, lower mortgage payments, and the freedom to relocate.
• 🛠️ She learned valuable skills through her experience: carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and problem-solving.
• 💸 Through using a variety of materials, DIY projects, and budget-conscious choices Tiffany's tiny home build was very cost-effective. 
• 👩‍👧 She hopes to inspire more young women to take on similar projects, proving skeptics wrong.
• 🤝 Tiffany highlights the importance of accepting help and support and the role of online tutorials throughout her building process.
• 🌿 Tiffany discusses living a more sustainable lifestyle through downsizing, living with less, highlighting the importance of affordable housing.
• 🌟 She shares her persistence and dedication, juggling multiple jobs, investing in real estate, and managing a lengthy build.

Find complete show notes, transcript, and photos at www.thetinyhouse.net/287

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I’m sharing my own captivating [and slightly humorous] tale of dealing with unexpected visitors in my tiny house. It all starting with light scratching sounds, which led to the shocking discovery of these unexpected guests. In this episode, I am walking you through the entire process of diagnosing, cleaning, and ultimately sealing off the entry points for these tiny intruders. With valuable lessons and practical advice for both builders and current tiny house dwellers, let’s explore the importance of preemptive measures and the necessity of addressing pest issues promptly. Stay tuned for helpful insights and a real-life tale of tiny house pest control adventure.

In This Episode:

• House maintenance: 🏠 Ethan's experience emphasizes the importance of inspecting and maintaining tiny houses to prevent critters from entering and causing issues.
• DIY building tips: 🔨 For DIY builders, it's essential to prioritize properly constructing soffits and fascia to ensure they are effective barriers against critters.
• Early pest control: ⏱️ Being proactive when signs of critters are noticed can prevent a minor issue from escalating into a major infestation.
• Infestation aftermath: 🐭 Even after addressing the initial infestation, hidden traps are an additional precaution.
• Prevention as a priority: 🚪 Highlighting the need for immediate action and the importance of not delaying pest control measures.

Links and Resources

• Pneumatic Staple Gun
• Victor Mouse Trap
• Building Construction Illustrated

Visit www.thetinyhouse.net/286 for full show notes, links and resources.

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As the president of THIA and the director of Government relations for the American Tiny House Association, Dan Fitzpatrick is at the forefront of the movement to legalize tiny homes as a viable housing option in the United States. In this episode, we'll dive into the progress being made in legalizing tiny homes, the collaboration between Tiny Home Industry Association and the International Code Council, and the challenges faced in navigating zoning constraints for placing tiny houses. We'll also discuss the importance of working with local leaders to bring about change, as well as Dan's work with Vera Struck and the introduction of a bill to legalize tiny homes in Massachusetts. Whether you're a tiny house enthusiast or simply curious about the movement, this episode will provide valuable insights into the future of legal tiny homes.

In This Episode:

🏠 Legalizing Tiny Homes: Dan has been working with state and municipalities to legalize tiny homes

• 💡 Collaboration and Advocacy: The episode highlights the importance of working with local organizations and leaders to drive change in building and zoning laws. 
• 📈 Scaling Up: Scaling up in the tiny home industry is crucial to meet the growing demand and drive down costs.
• 🏢 Building Codes: Dan discusses the collaboration between the Tiny Home Industry Association and the ICC, including the creation of a handbook called "The Tiny House Building It Right".
• 🏘️ Zoning Constraints: Zoning regulations are currently a major constraint for the tiny home industry. 
• 💼 Government Relations: Dan highlights the importance of connecting with officials as peers and actively engaging with elected officials at the local level.
• 🌍 National Impact: The significance of a national standard for tiny homes in driving industry growth and helping municipalities legalize tiny homes.

This Week's Sponsor:
PrecisionTemp:

We spoke with John and Fin Kernohan from the United Tiny House Association, they have a total of three PrecisionTemp On Demand hot water heaters. PrecisionTemp professionally installed all three of the Kernohan’s water heaters and now they have an on demand supply of endless hot water. These units are suitable for any tiny lifestyle and are available for propane or natural gas.

PrecisionTemp is offering $100 off any unit plus free shipping when use the coupon code THLP. So head over to precisiontemp.com and use the coupon code THLP at checkout for $100 off any unit.  Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show.

Visit www.thetinyhouse.net/285 for full show notes, links and resources.

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Nate Murphy is an adventurous builder and filmmaker who has taken on not just one, but countless incredible projects, converting several vans into cozy living spaces and renovating a centuries old house in the beautiful Pyrenees Mountains. In our conversation, Nate shares his experience of building a van from scratch, documenting every step of the process with over 100 hours of footage. Nate also opens up about the intense filming process, and the unique aspects of van conversion that make it both intimidating and incredibly cool. But that's not all, Nate goes beyond the van, sharing the captivating story of renovating a 250 year old house in the scenic Pyrenees, we'll hear about the demanding and rewarding journey of bringing new life to this historical gem. Whether you're curious about van conversions, tiny house living, or the challenges of renovating an old house, this episode has something for everyone.

In This Episode:

• 🏡 Customization and enjoyment: The value of a van conversion lies in the personalization and satisfaction of the build.
• 🌍 Van life vs. tiny houses: Younger people prefer the flexibility of van life, while older individuals are drawn to tiny houses for retirement and cost-cutting.
• 🏢 Housing affordability crisis: Limited options in the UK and high prices in areas with economic opportunity.
• ⚖️ Laws and restrictions: Living in a van is tolerated in many countries, but regulations vary.
• 🛠️ DIY resources: How Nate unexpectedly turned into a van conversion educator.
• 🕑 Time commitment: Building a van or a house takes time and dedication.
• 🔌 Learning new skills: DIYing a van conversion involves mastering electrical, plumbing, gas line hookups, carpentry, and more.
• 🏠 Renovating old houses: Nate Murphy shares his experience and challenges of renovating a 250-year-old house in Spain.

This Week's Sponsor:
PrecisionTemp:

We spoke with John and Fin Kernohan from the United Tiny House Association, they have a total of three PrecisionTemp On Demand hot water heaters. PrecisionTemp professionally installed all three of the Kernohan’s water heaters and now they have an on demand supply of endless hot water. These units are suitable for any tiny lifestyle and are available for propane or natural gas.

PrecisionTemp is offering $100 off any unit plus free shipping when use the coupon code THLP. So head over to precisiontemp.com and use the coupon code THLP at checkout for $100 off any unit.  Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show.

Visit www.thetinyhouse.net/nate-murphy for full show notes, links and resources.

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I met Vera a decade ago and we were both invited to speak at Deek Diedrickson's Tiny House workshop in Connecticut. She explained that my first pictures of my tiny house that I built in 2012 with rain screen inspired her to deep dive into everything from thermal bridging to mold mitigation for the build of her silver bullet tiny house.

When Vera takes on a project or issue you can bet she's thorough, persistent, and resilient. Vera has been on our podcast twice before, last time she discussed pandemic tiny house living at the very beginning of 2020. Today, she will help us learn about her process of becoming an active participant in democracy to legalize the very housing product she's lived in for over a decade in Massachusetts.

In This Episode:

• 🔎 Advocacy in the democratic process: Vera shares her her process of becoming a lobbyist, advocating for tiny houses and engaging with legislators.
• 📋 Forming a task force: It takes a time and a team to advocate for and develop tiny house building code.
• 💰 Affordable housing solutions: The important role of tiny houses as a response to the growing housing crisis.
• 🌍 Sustainability and environmental advocacy: Vera’s commitment to a sustainable lifestyle through her tiny house lifestyle.
• 📰 Media engagement: Vera explains her strategy for making progress now and handling press later.
• 🧩 Standards and certifications: The debate within the tiny house community and the benefits of the Massachusetts bill.
• 🏡 Tiny house maintenance: How does a tiny house hold up a decade after going tiny? Vera discusses her silver bullet tiny house and the maintenance requirements she has encountered over the years.

This Week's Sponsor:
PrecisionTemp:

We spoke with John and Fin Kernohan from the United Tiny House Association, they have a total of three PrecisionTemp On Demand hot water heaters. PrecisionTemp professionally installed all three of the Kernohan’s water heaters and now they have an on demand supply of endless hot water. These units are suitable for any tiny lifestyle and are available for propane or natural gas.

PrecisionTemp is offering $100 off any unit plus free shipping when use the coupon code THLP. So head over to precisiontemp.com and use the coupon code THLP at checkout for $100 off any unit.  Thank you so much to PrecisionTemp for sponsoring our show.

Visit www.thetinyhouse.net/verastruck for full show notes, links and resources.

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Pamela has a fascinating story to share about her life aboard a 100 year old tugboat called the Zenia Sophia. From the day before she got married, Pamela and her husband Ulrich have made this boat their home, raising their two daughters on board, creating a unique and adventurous lifestyle. We'll dive into their journey from the challenges of finding moorage for their 65 foot long boat, to the exhilaration of a rocky crossing. We'll also learn about the importance of supervising children around bodies of water and get a glimpse into the vibrant liveaboard community on the Pacific Northwest Coast.

In This Episode:

• Living on a boat ⛵️: Pamela and her family have lived a unique and vibrant liveaboard lifestyle for more than 30 years.
• Challenges of finding moorage 🚢: The difficulties of finding a place to dock their 65-foot long boat.
• Raising children around water 🚸: Pamela reflects on the responsibility of supervising kids on a liveaboard.
• Community and support 🤝: The liveaboard community is close-knit, looking out for one another.
• Challenges of boat maintenance and repairs 🛠️: Pamela discusses the work involved in maintaining a 100-year-old boat, including unexpected repairs and highlighting the complexities of working on a wooden vessel.
• Unique experiences and interests 🌍: Pamela shares the unique experiences that living on a boat brings, including a rocky crossing.
• Importance of air circulation and temperature control 🌬️: Pamela shares how they maintain comfortable temperatures and humidity levels onboard.
• Port Townsend as a hub for wooden boats 🌲: The speaker discusses Port Townsend's reputation as a dreamland for wooden boat owners.

Visit thetinyhouse.net/282 for full show notes and additional photos.

This Week's Sponsor:
You might be looking for more support, more information, and more interaction on your tiny house journey. My online community called Tiny House Engage is going to be opening for registration for the first time since June. That is coming Tuesday, October 10. Inside of the community, I am there answering questions, there are people living in tiny houses answering questions, people who are currently building or buying tiny houses, and tiny dreamers who are just starting their journeys. All getting together, supporting each other, talking tiny and hanging out at some really cool weekly live events that we host inside the community. If you think this might be of interest to you, you can head over to thetinyhouse.net/engage to get on the waitlist and I will send you an email as soon as everything opens up again. I'm looking forward to meeting you inside of the community. 

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