
Your Host, Ethan Waldman
Tiny House Author, Speaker, & Teacher
The Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast features interviews with tiny house luminaries, builders, DIYers and more.
Learn to plan, build, and live the tiny life.
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More Recent Episodes

Tiny Dreams on a Budget: Navigating Construction as Your Own Contractor with Laura Kuntz- #275
Laura Kuntz is an elementary school teacher and a mother of three grown daughters. She's here to share her journey of building her own tiny house. Since high school Laura has been obsessed with the idea of living in a small home and now as an empty nester, she finally had the perfect opportunity to make her dream a reality. In this episode, Laura walks us through the steps she took to go from being a tiny house enthusiast to a proud homeowner. She shares insights about finding the right location, navigating building codes and permits in the strict state of Massachusetts, and her unique choice of building her tiny house on a foundation instead of on wheels and acting as her own contractor. Stay tuned for an inspiring conversation with Laura about turning a lifelong dream into a tangible, beautiful home.

From North Dallas to Homesteading Paradise: The Story of One Family's Tiny Transition – #274
Beau and Kelly are a full time family building a Texas homestead. They are a family with five kids living in a tiny house that is just over 800 square feet and we just scratched the surface of their really cool lifestyle in this interview. If you are interested in homesteading, buying raw land or doing a shed to tiny house conversion, this episode is for you, because Beau just has so much info and he's so thoughtful about it. In this conversation, we dive into the start of their project, what the land was like when they first bought it, what they had to do and why they chose a shed conversion.

Exploring Mal's Mushroom House: A Fairy Tale-Styled Tiny Home with Innovative Renovations – #273
Mallory is a tiny house dweller who lives in a stationary tiny house that she calls Mal's mushroom house. The house is beautifully renovated and has a fairy tale like theme and feel to it. In this conversation, we'll learn about the history of Mal's mushroom house and the interior renovations that Mallory did to the house, I was really surprised how inexpensive she was able to do these renovations for, using things like countertop wrapping, cabinet wraps, and creating an accent wall using trim board. I get Mallory to spill her secrets about where she actually stores her stuff and the challenges of living tiny. It's really fun, quick conversation, and I hope you stick around to hear about Mallory's tiny house lifestyle.

Treehouses and Funky Shelter: Exploring the Work and Workshops of Derek ‘Deek’ Diedricksen – #272
Today’s episode is with fan favorite Derek “Deek” Diedricksen. Deek has been on the show several times, but I invited him back because it is the 10th anniversary of his super fun and unique signature tiny house building workshop, called Tiny House Summer Camp. In this interview, we'll talk about Deek’s hands on approach to workshops and how he structures these events so you can get your hands on power tools and build, to really get a sense of what it's like to build a small home. It wouldn't be an interview with Deek without lots of fun stories. We talk about how he has built small homes on public land that are completely hidden from view, how to start small, and other workshops and writing projects he has on his plate. Deek is always cooking up lots of interesting things, tune into this really fun conversation.

Building Relationships and Skills Through Workshops and Projects – #271
Jeff Waldman is a builder, a tinkerer, a designer, and over the course of several years, he and his partner Molly designed and built a beautiful retreat in the Redwoods with lots of help from friends. Unfortunately, it was lost in a 2020 wildfire. In this conversation, we will talk about the benefits of building with your community and involving your friends in your builds. We also talk about the importance of getting started with something small. Maybe not starting with a tiny house first, but with a chicken coop or a picnic table. Jeff is also the author of a best selling book called Tools, The Ultimate Guide and we talk about why he wrote it and who it's for. I really enjoyed this conversation with Jeff and I know you will too. I hope you stick around.

Untangling the Tiny House Legal Landscape with Lee Pera – #270
Are you confused by all the latest tiny house news relating to regulations and building code? Today, Lee Pera, is joining the show to help us untangle all of the regulatory happenings in the tiny house world. In this conversation, we delve into various topics including the IRC, Appendix Q, and ASTM efforts to create tiny house standards. Lee shares recent developments in the regulatory landscape and explains what they mean for living tiny legally. This episode of the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast provides valuable insights into the legal landscape of tiny house living and offers practical advice for those interested in building or living in a tiny home.

Making Your Home Unique: Tips from an Experienced Tiny House Builder – #269
Kristie Wolfe returns to the Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast with a conversation you do not want to miss. Her initial tiny house project in 2011 led her down a path she never expected. Kristie is passionate about creating unique, handcrafted experiences including a tree house in Hawaii, an underground hobbit hole in Washington and a potato hotel in her hometown of Boise. In this conversation we dive into Kristies latest and most ambitious project to date, Moonpass lookouts and the inspiration behind them. Discover the secrets behind her success and learn how she continues to dominate the Airbnb market. Get ready for an inspiring and enlightening conversation with Kristie Wolfe.

Building Solo: How to Create a Sustainable Dream Home Alone in the Woods with Otis Sanders – #268
Otis Sanders has spent the past five years constructing his dream home in the great outdoors, all alone in the woods. Otis found serenity and satisfaction in the process of creating a space that he could call his own. In this episode, we'll be discussing the challenges of building solo in the woods, including how to transport materials, manage your time, and ensure your safety when you're working alone. We'll also talk about the importance of sustainability and reducing environmental waste in the construction process. And finally, we'll dive into the joys of creating something beautiful and unique with your own hands and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. So if you're considering building your own tiny house, or you're simply interested in sustainability or the joys of living in the woods, this episode is for you.

Music and Sustainability: A Tiny House Lifestyle with Ashley Mazanec
Meet Ashley Mazanec, a self-professed tiny home nerd and talented musician. Ashley just released a new song and music video shot in her tiny house!...

From Shed to Off-Grid Tiny House: Customization and Challenges with Blake Oelfke – #266
Blake and his wife, Alex are 23 year old newlyweds living off the grid, tiny house life in Northern Arizona. Their 400 square foot shed conversion is a testament to their creativity and resourcefulness. In this episode, Blake shares the story behind their unique home from customization details to navigating the fine line between shed and residential structure. Get ready to be inspired by their journey into tiny house living and learn all about what it takes to convert a shed to a tiny house on this episode with Blake Oelfke.