#102 Gert, the Yurt, and a Grrl – With Kari Cooper

One of the best parts of attending the various tiny house events that occur, almost every weekend, is meeting all of the amazing people that make up this inspiring movement. And, Kari Cooper, certainly fits that bill. This fun and inspiring woman found peace, not in a tiny house, but in a yurt. Her mobile yurt, named “Gert”, came to her as a wedding present but keeps on giving; not only to her but to all who enter. At times, immobilized by health issues, her story echoes what we hear from so many of our listeners. They want a simpler life, a smaller life, a tribe on which to lean, a fun story to tell, a friend on whom to call, and a space to call one’s own. The strength of this tiny woman, the story of her creative journey, and her irreverent approach to life keeps her moving. And, maybe, her story might be the inspiration you need to make the next move towards the tiny life of your dreams too! You Go GRRL!

www.yurtgrrl.com

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#101 Enjoying The Green, Green, Grass of Home with Byron Denhart

We often find that when we take time to walk, to talk, to listen, and to quietly contemplate our future; it’s easier to envision it. And this week our guest, Byron with Switchgrass Tiny Homes, proves our theory. And, although this tiny house builder’s plan started out quietly enough, with the recent addition of a son; his life hasn’t been quiet since. If you have been out and about at the tiny house festivals East of the Mississippi you have, no doubt, seen Byron and his hardworking crew giving tours and inspiring us with their clean designs. Their responsible and responsive approach to customer education, and their flexible approach to design, made an impression on Michelle who recently met Byron at a festival in North Carolina. Afterwards, she wasn’t a bit surprised to learn that the house she fell in love with there, didn’t make it back home. Someone else loved it so much, they bought it! As Byron says on their website: “Going tiny, isn’t just a move; it’s a move that will change your life…” and we couldn’t agree more.

http://switchgrasstinyhomes.com/about/

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#100 The Duo Who Does It All with Joshua and Shelley Engberg

You don’t have to appreciate Marvel Comics to enjoy this week’s interview with the dynamic duo of tiny houses, Josh and Shelley. Long before their episode on “Tiny House Nation” aired, this young power couple was already moving their lives in a direction which focused on freedom, travel, and using their talents to help others achieve their dream. And if you think that living in a tiny house with someone would be a challenge, just imagine living AND working together WITH two dogs underfoot. With a lot of work, sweat, and tears, these two have carved out a pretty impressive corner of the tiny house world; and there is nothing “TINY” or “BASIC” about the thriving business they have created. Equally impressive is their refusal to sacrifice quality or what they love (Finally! We meet someone who loves shoes and clothes as much as Michelle does!?) Every time we see their 374 sq foot tiny house on wheels, or hear their story, we are even more convinced that this is a couple who is bound for bigger and better things and whose hard work will continue to reap BIG benefits. If you are looking for inspiration to pursue your tiny house dream but have more questions than answers, we know you’ll really love this week’s interview, as well as Josh and Shelley’s new book “Tiny House Basics – Living the Good Life in Small Spaces”

http://www.tinyhousebasics.com/book/

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#99 Houses That Fit In Your Pocket with Ross Chapin

If you’re planning on visiting, living in, creating, or dreaming of a tiny house community; you have no doubt heard of our guest this week; Ross Chapin. His amazing vision, his dedication, and his book “Pocket Neighborhoods – Creating Small Scale Community in a Large Scale World” have created an opportunity to reshape the way cities approach planning neighborhoods. It doesn’t matter if the house is on wheels, or on a foundation; his ideas about how to create an environment of both connection and privacy are positively ground-breaking. (pun intended!) His style is simple, inspired by the idea of creating an environment that encourages sharing with our neighbors, and every feature of the spaces he envisions has a practical function; though many of them are not obvious. This is one of those interviews that you really should take time-out for. So, grab a cup of your favorite tea or coffee, settle into a comfy chair, turn off the ringer on your cell phone, and join us for a discussion with a guy who gives ideas on how you can create connection with others, one tiny step at a time, in your own community; no shovel required.

www.pocket-neighborhoods.net

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#98 Octagonal Love with Lou

Tiny Houses come in all shapes and sizes but building most tiny houses doesn’t require the complex mathematical calculations like building a yurt does. Lou, with Octobie, must be a genius. Michelle can hardly wrap her brain around designing in dormers for her tiny house. Lou builds copulas. Michelle finds compound miter cuts intimidating; for Lou it’s another day at the office. His yurts are beautiful, efficient, unique, and we love everything about these eight-sided tiny houses. If a different kind of tiny, suits your fancy, and you’re interesting in a space NOT on wheels, you should listen in this week as we chat about the challenges of building these uncommonly-wood but truly-amazing structures.
http://www.octobie.com/

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#97 Tiny Getaway Houses with Jon Staff

There is nothing tiny about the vision of Jon Staff, our guest this week. And, “impressive” does not even begin to describe what he and his team have created for their guests. If you’re lucky enough to live in Boston or New York, you have no doubt heard about this amazing new way to unplug and unwind in one of Getaway’s tiny houses. So many of us live such harried lives. So many of us get caught up in our day to day lives and don’t make downtime a priority. We know we should, but there are so many details to work out; which is oddly ironic, isn’t it? And while many people in the tiny house movement don’t need convincing of the value of simplicity, many do. Picture this. It’s been months since you did something just for you. So you decide to splurge and book a weekend in a tiny house in the mountains. You don’t even know where it is, really. But on Friday morning you receive an email with a song list. You listen and unwind as you find your way to your weekend oasis. Once you arrive, you find everything you need to do nothing; even the firewood and some groceries. There is no wifi, no TV, and a lockbox for your cell phone. We don’t know about you but the podcast crew can’t wait till Getaway “gets” to the West Coast and we too can live this tiny weekend-off-the-beaten-path dream. Thank you, Getaway House, for making downtime more accessible and making us think twice about spending another weekend tethered to our cell phones.

https://getaway.house/

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#96 Living an Inspired Life of Freedom with Tyson Edwards

Oregon is such a great place to call home. But finding an affordable home option is not so easy in this amazing state of ours. Can you believe that over 50% of the houses that sold in Portland in the past two months, sold for OVER the asking price? It’s a fever-pitched real estate market that is crowding out first time home buyers, and leaving renters to question if they’ll ever have a place to call their own. And, we know that Portland is not alone and if there ever was a perfect situation in which to launch a new company who helps first time homebuyers think outside the traditional foundation-based-box, we think our guest this week has found it! It’s not often that we have the opportunity to interview our guest in the studio so this chat with Covo Tiny Houses’ founder, Tyson, was a real treat for us. And, speaking of treats, Michelle also had the opportunity to see their latest build at a local event in the Spring. If you’re looking for an advocate to help you navigate the complex world of tiny house finance, design, and placement; listen in! We know you’ll come away with some great information to help you take the next step on your path to tiny house ownership.

https://www.covotinyhouse.com/

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#95 Alan Graham and the Tiny House Gun and Knife Club

Tiny Houses are often offered up as a solution to homelessness. And while the Podcast Crew may have varying opinions on the subject, we can all agree that our guest this week has the best idea we’ve heard yet. No so long ago, Alan Graham left the comfy confines of his Westlake Hills home and took to the streets to hang with the people who inhabit them. It is a routine Graham has had since 2003, when he began hosting “Street Retreats” as part of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, the Austin nonprofit he co-founded in 1998, whose mission is to restore dignity to homeless people through food, clothing, and camaraderie. But, in all honesty, our favorite contribution of the Mobile Loaves & Fishes organization is the Community First Village. It is a 27-acre community in East Austin that provides affordable, permanent, small houses for the homeless. And, in exchange for modest rent, paid through wages or disability checks, residents have access to features like a medical facility for health screenings, an outdoor movie theater, and, perhaps most importantly, WiFi. We were inspired and impressed by this unique solution and we know you will be too! Hey! Alan! Keep up the great work!!
http://mlf.org/

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#94 Trying On A Tiny for Size With Maggie Daniels

If the past three years have taught us anything, they have taught us that the lack of legal and welcoming spaces for tiny houses has kept the tiny house movement from blossoming into the bustling industry it should be. So many people want to live in a tiny house but are hesitant to build one, for fear of not finding a spot to park it. Our guest this week recognized this opportunity, and seized it by recently launching “Try It Tiny”; an online resource which connects tiny house enthusiasts and occupants, with landowners and tiny house owners. Listen in this week to hear how this hustling entrepreneur finds listings, about her challenges of launching a new website, and how she hopes to change the landscape of America and perceptions of the possibilities that tiny houses provide. Whether you want to park your tiny house in someone’s side yard for a month, stay on a back lot for a year, or simply try a tiny on for size; “Try It Tiny” will no doubt be the go-to place to meet your needs. We agree with Maggie, providing connections to places to park tiny houses will spur the movement along like no other effort can; and we’re excited to see it happen!

https://www.tryittiny.com/

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#93 My Billionaire Neighbors With Ariel McGlothin

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/

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# 92 The Cop, The Kids, and Breakfast With Romania Myers

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/

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#91 Batter, Batter, Batter, SWING! It’s a HOME RUN!

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 thankful they didn’t have to stand in line too long. Yep. Very soon he’ll be buried with interview requests and build backlog. So if you’re in the market for a high end tiny you might want to take advantage of what will no doubt be Adam’s dizzyingly short off-season. The Tiny House Podcast crea has already purchased our front row tickets to see this All American builder strut his stuff, and we’re looking forward to another great inning!

https://www.facebook.com/anewbeginningtinyhomes/

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#90 It’s All Tiny House and Yoga Pants

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 this too-busy-to-date young woman was too busy for one more project, she also works with a newly formed non-profit who is has launched a Kickstarter campaign to sell yoga pants made by women in crisis. And speaking of “in crisis”, Amanda didn’t skip a beat when she moved to a tornado shelter DURING OUR INTERVIEW amidst the sounds of sirens. Yes, the show must go on; and go on, it did…

www.tinypocketliving.co

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#89 An Amish Minister and a Tiny House Builder Walked Into a Bar…

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. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the conviction in these inspired homes, but you just might be converted in the process.

www.liberationtinyhomes.com

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#88 Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs, and a Purple Bus with Susan Bernardo and Courtenay Fletcher

"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

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#87 A Big Heart a Big Family and a Tiny House Startup with Marc Frederick

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 fanciest tiny houses they can; our visit this week with a man whose mission is based on faith and helping others was refreshing indeed. After hearing this week’s episode we think you’ll agree that BIGHEART Tiny House Company is a perfect moniker for this impressive and hard working family!

http://www.bighearthouses.com/

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#86 Learning, Growing, and Living With All Things Tiny w/ Thom Stanton

Ladies and Gentlemen, Introducing….. the many personalities that are Thom Stanton! <<<< insert applause here>>>>> 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 friend.

www.HousingDevelopmentInstitute.com

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#85 Starstruck with Felice Cohen

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

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#84 Eldon The Tiny Bus Goes On an Adventure with James Martin

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/

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#83 Living the F.A.S.T. (Fabulous. Abundant. Simple. Tiny.) Life with Jenn Baxter

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

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#82 Is This the End of the Tiny World As We Know it with Sharon Ross

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/

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#81 Changing the Neighborhood, One Tiny at A Time w/ Sophie Szymeczek

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

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#80 Ropes, Ladders, Dumbbells, and a Baby with Mike De Vivo

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.VIVOTrainingSystems.com

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#79 Where There’s a WILL There’s a WAY - Will Johnston of Tiny House Atlanta

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/

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