Tiny House Podcast

Jackson Hole Wyoming is well known as a playground for the rich and famous and the last place on earth you would expect to find a tiny house. But, as our guest this week explains, with enough tenacity you can indeed find the perfect secluded spot for your tiny house, even amongst the most inhospitable of neighbors. (Moose, Wolves, Elk, and Mountain Lions, of course!) Perched on the corner of a 300 acre estate, Ariel’s fully off grid tiny house provides her with the financial freedom to support herself by working part time as a waitress. And when she’s not working, she spends her time perfecting the art of wildlife photography and cooking. But off grid life is not all sunshine and naps. This hard working tiny-house-life-advocate hauls her water, shovels snow for more than a few months a year, and even cuts the wood for her stove. If you’re inspired by stories about women who kick ass, in more ways than one, tune in this week and hear how she does it all, and still has it all. http://fynyth.blogspot.com/

This week, we’re thinking outside the tiny house box again and having a ton of fun chatting with Romania (pronounced Ra-mon-ya) about her 1990 Bluebird home on wheels. What this bus originally lacked in amenities, it more than made up for in affordability. Romania and her husband paid only $100 to put the bus on layaway, and before they could say “all aboard”, this family of 8 was driving towards their dream. Inspired by the tiny houses they saw on HGTV, they immediately recognized the advantages of financial freedom and how having a mobile lifestyle would enable them to fulfill their mission to give back to their community. And, since Romania met her cop-husband on a bus, it seemed to be the perfect way to honor the beginning of their dream. Soon, they’ll be serving breakfast to their neighbors, welcoming all who are in need, and encouraging them to pursue their own dreams, one tiny step at a time. http://tinyhousetrailblazers.com/2017/03/in-the-spotlight-2/

You may not easily recognize Adam Lehman, or the name “A New Beginning Tiny Homes” but we KNOW you’ll recognize his beautiful tiny blue house named “Tiffany” because it’s been seen everywhere like the Rock Star house that it is! It has already graced the front page of Tiny House Magazine, was featured on the TV show “Tiny House, Big Living”, received the best design award at the recent Georgia Tiny House Festival, and just spent the weekend for a photo shoot on a white sand beach in Florida. This week we’re chatting with this hometown favorite about his inspiration, his challenges, and his entry into the bright-lights world of tiny house fame. For a first builder, Adam really hit it out of the park on this one and his attention to details shows in every light fixture, the paint color and trim choices, and even the portable bathtub made out of old telephone poles. For now, he’s a one man show looking for a 2nd time up at bat, but we have confidence that the lucky buyer who discovers his talent will be thankf

Where were you when you were 23 years old? Did you have LIFE all figured out? No? We didn’t either. Our guest this week, however, is likely the youngest of our guests and yet no less impressive than the most seasoned of builders. Amanda Archambault (we dare you to pronounce THIS last name without help) is a designer turned passionate tiny house advocate and we have no doubt that she’s on her way to great things. The flexibility of tiny homes on wheels is well known. In addition to being someone’s forever home, they’re used as guest homes, vacation homes, travel homes, mobile bars, and even as mobile churches. Amanda has taken this vision one step further and her project, Pocket Living, is helping small business owners find efficient and affordable space for their craft in, you guessed it, tiny storefronts on wheels. Can’t decide on a theme for your tiny house? Stuck on a color decision? She and her business partners will also help you design the tiny house of your dreams. And just when you thought

What do you get when you mix together one part Amish, one part rebel, and one part tiny house? Liberation Tiny Homes, of course! No matter how many builders we interview here on the Tiny House Podcast, we’re always impressed by the variety of the stories and the people, and this week is no different. After having been raised in the secluded environment of an Amish community in Pennsylvania, when given the chance, Jimmie Stoltzfus chose a different path for himself. His new life, however, didn’t stray too terribly far from his roots. Aft a bit of soul searching in his late teens, he took what he had learned in the building trades as a growing boy, and applied them to his passion for tiny efficient spaces, and the results are stunning. There are no cutting corners in his little corner of the world. And when you see them, it won’t take you long to notice that Jimmie takes his work and his designs very seriously; and it shows in every tiny, perfectly plumb, perfectly square, aspect of his houses on wheels.

"Once there was a farmhouse in a field of hay.." is the opening line to an adorable new children's book called “The Big Adventures of Tiny House” being released in April. Roll along with us this week as Susan and Courtenay, the books’ author and illustrator, share how building a book is a lot like building a tiny house, and why indie publishing appeals to these very creative DIY-ers. You'll hear what inspired their story of an old farmhouse that gets salvaged and repurposed into “Tiny”; a little house with a big heart and WHEELS, who sets off on a cross-country journey to figure out the true meaning of home. We loved hearing about their creative process, and how their own family histories influenced the book; and we know you will too! So, sit back, settle into your favorite chair, grab a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate - it's story time! www.SunKissesMoonHugs.com

What do you get when you take 7 children, 2 adults, 1 bus, and a tiny-kitchen-on-wheels on a faith-based mission to ease the loneliness of homelessness? A fun and inspiring story about a new tiny house builder, of course. This week, Marc from BIGHEART Tiny House Co, joins us to tell the story of how his family started their somewhat unintentional tiny house journey by hitting the road on a converted school bus. Over the course of 6 months, they toured the country in search of the disparaged and poverty stricken, and freely donated their time and musical talents to raise the spirits of whomever they met. Upon their return, the sale of their tiny-kitchen-on-wheels turned into an opportunity to help a college student in an unexpected new way. And their first tiny house project was born. Word spread quickly about their affordable approach to tiny house building and their desire to help people fulfill their tiny house dreams. With so many builders who are vested in building the best, and the biggest, and the fan

Ladies and Gentlemen, Introducing….. the many personalities that are Thom Stanton! >> Here at the Tiny House Podcast we traditionally have a pretty good time but this week’s interview with Thom takes our banter to a whole new level. Laughter aside, however, don’t let his humorous demeanor let you be distracted from the serious nature of The Housing Development Institute’s message; and his focus on creating a better, more sustainable, and fully legal future for tiny houses. And while reaching for a tissue to wipe the tears of laughter from your face, don’t miss the advice he has for DIY housebuilders who wonder if they’ll ever be able to legally occupy their tiny abode. Some of us “like” tiny homes but Thom is one of those people who lives and breathes tiny homes. (and according to his facebook page, stays up all night researching them!) So tune in this week, with pencil in hand if possible, to learn more than you might expect from this guy, an unstoppable force, an impressive advocate, and now…..our frien

If you think that living in a 200 square foot tiny house on wheels would be a challenge, consider what it might be like to live in only 90 square feet like our very-famous guest did for 5 years! You seriously don’t want to miss this week’s interview with Felice, an award winning author-blogger-speaker-consultant-and TV Personality. This lady’s got it all! (and we don’t mean just looks and brains.) Felice embodies drive, and creative vision, and focus, and keeps an impressively keen eye on a vision for her minimalistic future. This candid conversation about downsizing and organizing and guilt and stuff even inspired Michelle to take yet another critical look at her growing boot collection. (insert incredulous “gasp!” here!) Do you really need all that stuff? Does Michelle really need over 40 pairs of shoes and boots? Listen in this week and decide for yourself. www.felicecohen.com

Once upon a time there was a tiny bus named Eldon and a fun man named James. Eldon was sad. He was lonely and wanted to find a friend. And then James met Eldon. And, James said to Eldon “Let’s have fun together!” Eldon was drab and tired. And then James painted him. Now Eldon is colorful and cheerful! Now Eldon is fun too! James likes to make drinks. Eldon and James now share drinks with their fun new friends. Now Eldon goes on exciting adventures with his friend James. We love Eldon. We love James. We love friends and drinks too! We know you will love Eldon and James just like we do. The End. http://eldonthebus.com/

There is, quite likely, nobody in the tiny house movement who embodies the “making lemons into Lemonade” mantra better then Jenn Baxter. While it would be understandable that she would be bitter and even a bit angry after what happened to her famous tiny house; instead, she proudly tells her story of loss and redemption, forgiveness and acceptance. And while most of us would likely cower in the face of confrontation, she held her ground and advocated for herself and has come out on top. Tune in this week for a chance to hear “the other side of the story” from this resilient and engaging young woman who took her mother’s dying advice, to live life without fear. Instead of being defeated by challenge, listen in to hear how Jenn used her tiny house building experience as inspiration to launch her new venture. The Tiny House Podcast Team is cheering for you, Jenn! And, we imagine the whole world will be too, once they hear your story. Http://liveafastlife.com

In addition to our love of tiny houses, we love guests who make us question our reality and push our own understanding of our future. And this week, Sharon the self-described AfroVivalist fits that bill, and then some! Imagine a world where all electronic devices have been disabled by a disaster. ALL OF THEM. What would you do? Where would you go? How would you survive? Admittedly, this might not be a fun or entertaining thing to think about but living intentionally isn’t always just about focusing on what brings you happiness. Intentional living can also bring you peace of mind and security that takes the form of a disaster plan. Yes, we know you cannot fit 6 months of food in your tiny house. Or can you? If you’re inspired by badass women who push the boundaries of what “prepared” means, you’ll LOVE this week’s episode! http://www.afrovivalist.com/

The tiny house movement is full of focused and engaged advocates and this week we’re interviewing a real North Carolina Pioneer. Sophie pushed the city and questioned the rules and is now proud to report that she is in the process of building a fully-permitted but less-than-300-squarefoot tiny house that is NOT on wheels; on an surplus city lot that she bought for only $5,000. These are the kinds of “if they can do it so can we” stories we love to hear. She knew that a tiny house on wheels would not suffice and now her house is the first of its kind in HER town. As you listen in this week we know that you’ll be as inspired and impressed as her no-doubt-soon-to-be-tiny-house neighbors will be. She’s opened the tiny door and made it possible. Now, all they have to do is follow her lead. tinysparklesite.wordpress.com

People who live tiny often have more than one motivation for doing so, and our guest this week is no exception. Mike from Vivo Training Systems is no exception. His tiny house doubles as his own personal training gym, as well as a unique place for him to train and engage with his fitness clients. And, this guy really knows his stuff. After losing over 100 lbs, after surviving the harrowing and stressful process of having his house built on TV, he and his wife have launched their new tiny life focusing on helping others to get fit and intentionally live their lives. And now, in addition to dumbbells, they have a baby to lift. And while he admits that their tiny house is likely a transitional one, he shares his permanent appreciation for the freedom their tiny house affords them all. We love the idea of combining a passion for health and a tiny house but we’re not yet sold on the climbing rope to their loft. But hey, maybe you’re a gym teacher or training for the circus and you’d love it!? www.VIVOTrai

We’re sure you’ve heard the adage “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” but you haven’t heard it with THIS twist… You see, Will’s jet setting juices get flowing when he’s feeling stress and we have decided that we want to be just like him when we grow up. (OK, maybe just Michelle does) Just a few months ago, one of our listeners reached out to Michelle to tell her all about Will from Tiny House Atlanta and about the impressive advocacy work he has been doing down south. He leads one of the largest Tiny House Meetup groups in the country, is now fully employed as a tiny-house-small-dwelling-and-intentional-life advocate and consultant, and has turned his newfound passion into a fun loving job that allows him the flexibility to be when and where he wants to be. He’s found his mission, his partner, his voice, and us. And we’re oh-so-tiny-house happy that he did. http://tinyhouseatlanta.com/

If you have ever wondered if Andrew has a serious side, if he thinks more deeply than he laughs, if he tires of talking about tiny houses after 8 years of living intentionally, if he accepts anyone’s opinion but his own, or if his future includes a soap box; you’ll want to tune in this week to hear the somewhat somber side of this funny guy. After overhearing him sadly comment on the homeless crisis in America, and after reading his chapter in Turning Tiny, we wanted to hear more. We wanted to hear his take on this complex issue. What really IS the problem that is causing the homeless epidemic in America? Are tiny houses the answer? How can we advocate for tiny houses as a tool to help the homeless while not devaluing them at the same time? If you think that we should be building tiny houses instead of walls to solve our societal problems, tune in this week. And, if you don’t learn anything at all, we know you will come away with a newfound appreciation for Andrew and his contribution to the tiny house move

What started in a small Amish community, gained momentum in the Florida high life, then became an all out mission in London, that ended with love. And the rest….as they say….is love filled history. (Do “they” really say that?) This week we’re chatting with the energetic and fun loving powerhouse couple behind United Tiny House Association, John and Fin. This funny and generous duo lives in a 300 square foot tiny house in Georgia with their six (Or 7?) cats. But even if you’re not a cat lover we know you’ll love the story of how they met, the first Georgia Tiny House Festival, why they decided to donate the proceeds of their events to charities, why their volunteers love them (almost as much as we do) and their less-than-linear direction towards minimalism. But don’t let the term “association” lull you into thinking these are passive folks. No way! They’re the passion and drive behind the Georgia and Florida Tiny House Festivals and Michelle is positively giddy that she’ll be joining the crazy party in March

It’s not often that we get to interview tiny house enthusiasts on other continents, so this week we’re THRILLED to feature two very influential and dedicated individuals from Down Under; Darren and Lisa from Tiny Houses Australia. Even Michelle is a little jealous of the following these two have amassed since they ventured onto the tiny house scene. We think that ANY story told with an Australian accent is fun to listen to and this one is no exception. Listen in this week while we discuss relationships in tiny spaces, the unique challenges of building and living in tiny houses in Australia, as well as some common themes heard no matter what country you’re parking in. They may not have all the TV shows we do, or the Festivals and Jamborees and Conferences that we do, but they’ve got the same real estate and zoning challenges we have here in the US and are enthusiastically facing them with the same change-is-good attitude. http://www.tinyhousesaustralia.com/

Today we chat with Tiny House Swoon owner, Steven Harrell. Steven created Swoon after a dream inspired him. This was after he had already created several other tiny house websites, including tinyhouselistings.com and tinyhousevacations.com. Obviously Steven has tiny houses flowing in his veins. But it hadn't always been that way. Before tiny houses he was a successful entrepreneur living the high life. That high life ending abruptly was a good thing because it lead to Steven finding his passion. Today Steven lives on a North Carolinian island, enjoying a life purpose built around all things tiny.

"Nuff' said"